The structure and generation of the second maximal subgroups of the almost simple groups with alternating, classical or sporadic socle

Let $G$ be an almost simple group whose socle is an alternating, classical, or sporadic group, and let $H$ be a non-parabolic maximal subgroup of $G$. We prove that any maximal subgroup $M$ of $H$ can be generated by at most $7$ elements, and that this bound is sharp when the socle of $G$ is alterna