Sean Dyche sacked as Everton manager by new owners hours before FA Cup tie

Sean Dyche has been sacked as Everton’s manager hours before the club’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to Peterborough United.

Everton’s new owner, The Friedkin Group (TFG), had wanted a period of stability after completing its takeover on 19 December. But a sequence of one win in 11 Premier League games – with Everton failing to score in eight of those – has prompted TFG to part company with Dyche earlier than expected. Tension in Dyche’s relationship with director of football, Kevin Thelwell, may have contributed to the timing.

Everton’s under-18s coach Leighton Baines will take charge of the FA Cup tie, assisted by the captain, Séamus Coleman. Graham Potter had been strongly linked with the Everton job in recent days but replaced Julen Lopetegui at West Ham instead.

A club statement released at 4.32pm read: “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 under way and an update will be provided in due course. Under-18s head coach Leighton Baines and club captain Séamus Coleman will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis.”

Dyche replaced Frank Lampard as Everton manager in January 2023. He twice succeeded in the task of preserving the club’s Premier League status despite major financial constraints and last season’s two points deductions for breaches of profitability and sustainability rules. But poor results, allied to a dismal style of play, drained support for the 53-year-old this season.

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The former Burnley manager admitted on Tuesday that TFG should be planning for his succession given Everton’s results. Dyche has delivered only three league wins in this campaign and, despite draws against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City over the festive period, Everton are fifth from bottom, one point above the relegation zone.

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