Everton have confirmed that manager Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties, barely hours before their FA Cup third-round tie with Peterborough United.
Dyche’s dismissal comes 24 hours after another Premier League side, West Ham United, parted ways with manager, Julen Lopetegui, before announcing Graham Potter as his replacement earlier on Thursday.
In a short statement to announce the dismissal, Everton revealed that the search for a new head coach has begun as Dyche has left the club with immediate effect.
“Everton Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as Senior Men’s First Team Manager with immediate effect. Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer have also left the Club.
“The process to appoint a new manager is underway and an update will be provided in due course. Under-18s Head Coach Leighton Baines and Club Captain Seamus Coleman will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis.”
53-year-old Dyche was in the final few months of his Everton contract but after a winless run stretching back to early December and a league position on the cusp of the relegation zone, the board felt it was time for him to leave.
It is yet unclear who will succeed Dyche on a permanent basis at Goodison Park, but rumours have surfaced about current Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho making a return to the Premier League.