Nottingham Forest have sacked Sean Dyche after just 114 days and 17 matches in charge.
News of Dyche’s exit came through at 12.30am on Thursday morning – around three hours after Forest’s goalless draw with Premier League bottom club Wolves.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Nottingham Forest’s match against Wolves in the Premier League
Dyche is the third manager Forest have sacked this season after Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou – the latter himself only lasting 39 days in charge at the City Ground.
Forest have decided to let Dyche go after a three-game winless run in the Premier League – which included draws against Crystal Palace and Wolves, as well as a damaging 3-1 loss to relegation rivals Leeds last Friday.
Dyche leaves with Forest three points above the relegation zone with 12 games of the season remaining.
Forest now have a seven-day break before their next game – a Europa League play-off with Fenerbahce next Thursday. The players have the day off on Thursday, with nothing expected at Forest until then.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is understood to be frustrated with the club’s inability to make the most of the attacking talent available at the club, as well as the inability to move away from the relegation places.
Analysis: Attacking woes behind Dyche dismissal
Nottingham Forest’s Nikola Milenkovic appears dejected at full time
Sky Sports News’ Anton Toloui:
Sean Dyche was brought into Nottingham Forest to not just guarantee their Premier League survival but push them back up the table.
It’s why he was only given a contract until the end of next season. His objectives were short-term and, after failing to score against a soon-to-be relegated Wolves, his sacking was inevitable.
Frustrations have been growing in the corridors of power at the club.
A three-game run against strugglers Crystal Palace, Leeds and Wolves should have given Dyche vital breathing room. Instead, he earned only two points and his side continue to tread water above drop zone.
Forest spent £180m in the summer and brought in players in January too. Most of that was spent on attackers, yet Forest have only scored 25 goals in 26 league games this season.
Nottingham Forest missed so many chances vs Wolves
How can a club with such talented players as Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Elliot Anderson continue to struggle?
It’s something the new head coach will have to figure out ahead of a huge trip to Turkey next week to take on Fenerbahce in the Europa League before Liverpool in the Premier League.
Dyche’s final words as Forest boss
Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche after the 0-0 draw with Wolves:
“The owner has been fair to me, without a shadow of a doubt. If anyone chooses to change in football now, that’s their decision. We’ve all seen it.
“People can demand change, and then it’s always whether they change or not. I just work very hard. I care about this club. I’ve made that clear. I’m working very hard.
“If the owner wants to make a change, then that’s up to him, and that’s the way football is now, that’s just the reality of it.
“But I’m not questioning the owner here. He’s been absolutely fair with me from the beginning to the end, and I’ve been fair with him and told him the truth every step of the way.
“Owners are owners. They don’t warm you up, it just comes, if that’s the way it goes. I’m a realist. I understand the noise here has changed significantly since the last few games.”
Nottingham Forest’s upcoming fixtures
Fenerbahce (A) – Europa League knockout play-off first leg – Thursday February 19; kick-off 5.45pmLiverpool (H) – Premier League – Sunday February 22, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 2pmFenerbahce (H) – Europa League knockout play-off second leg – Thursday February 26; kick-off 8pmBrighton (A) – Premier League – Sunday March 1, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 2pmMan City (A) – Premier League – Wednesday March 4; kick-off 7.30pmFulham (H) – Premier League – Saturday March 14; kick-off 3pm
