Everton have fired manager Sean Dyche, the club announced on Thursday.
Dyche succeeded Frank Lampard in 2023. Although Dyche saved Everton from relegation in consecutive seasons despite financial difficulties, a combination of bad form and an uninteresting style of football has forced the Merseyside club to act.
David Moyes is on the verge of clinching a return to Everton following talks with the club’s new owners.
Everton has only managed 15 goals in 19 games, placing them 16th in the Premier League. The only team with fewer is Southampton, who are in last place.
Three hours before their FA Cup third-round visit to Peterborough, the club issued a statement announcing that Seamus Coleman, the captain, and former player Leighton Baines will fill on an Interim Basis.
The Statement read: “Everton Football Club can affirm that Sean Dyche has been sacked with immediate effect. “Coaches] Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Imprint Howard, and Billy Mercer have additionally left the Club.
“The process to appoint a new manager is in progress and an update will be given at the appropriate time.
“Under-18s Head Coach Leighton Baines and Club Captain Seamus Coleman will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis.”
Moyes has been unemployed since leaving West Ham United at the end of the previous season and sources have stated that he is open to a second stint as manager. Moyes departed Everton in 2013 after 11 years as manager to follow Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Prior to his move to West Ham United, which was also confirmed on Thursday, Graham Potter was linked to Everton.
The announcement comes less than a month after the Friedkin Group, a US corporation, completed the club’s takeover. Executive chairman Marc Watts stated that the American ownership group is “committed to leading Everton into an exciting new era both on and off the pitch.”
Everton will move to a new riverfront stadium in Liverpool next season, following 132 years at Goodison Park.
Despite being tipped as the odds-on favourite to succeed Dyche, Jose Mourinho, the Fenerbahce manager is not a candidate to join Everton at this time.