Sean Dyche has been fired as Everton manager after less than two years at the helm.
The club’s decision was announced just hours before their scheduled FA Cup third-round tie against League One side Peterborough.
In the interim, Everton have appointed under-18s head coach Leighton Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman to take charge for the upcoming match.
Both Baines, a former left-back, and Coleman, a right-back, have over 800 Everton appearances between them.
Dyche’s departure also sees four members of his coaching staff – Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard, and Billy Mercer – leave the club.
The move comes after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday, leaving Everton in 16th place in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone.
The Toffees have struggled this season, winning only three of their 19 league matches, and failed to register a shot on target at Vitality Stadium.
Everton’s new ownership had been in discussions with Dyche throughout the week, and both parties concluded that their relationship had reached its end.
Negotiations over an exit package were reportedly challenging before a settlement was reached.
Club insiders suggest that Everton’s next manager will ideally have Premier League experience, with former boss David Moyes, who managed the club from 2002 to 2013, among the leading candidates.
Dyche, whose contract was set to expire in the summer, replaced Frank Lampard on January 30, 2023, with Everton struggling in the relegation zone.
