Online Reporter
NOTTINGHAM Forest have sacked Sean Dyche following the 0-0 draw with rock-bottom Wolves.
Evangelos Marinakis wasted no time in letting him go, with the club announcing his departure shortly before 1am.
A statement read: “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach.
“We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the Club and we wish them the best of luck for the future. We will be making no further comment at this time.”
The 17th-placed Reds were booed off by frustrated fans at the City Ground after the disappointing blank against the basement boys on Wednesday night.
Although the point moves them three points clear of West Ham in 18th, it was a massive missed opportunity against a team who have won just once in the top flight all season.
It meant Dyche had won just two of his last ten games in the Premier League — placing his position under increasing scrutiny.
And the manager — who had a contract until 2027 but lasted just 25 games and 114 days — admitted afterwards that he would not be surprised if his time is now up.
Just hours before he was dismissed, Dyche, 54, said: “I’ve never been questioned here on anything about it. The owner has been fair to me, without a shadow of a doubt, and fair on the situation.
“If anyone chooses to change in football now, that’s their decision. People change, we’ve all seen it.
“People can demand change and then it’s up to owners whether they change or not. I just work very hard. I care about this club, I’ve made that clear and so do my staff. I’m working very hard. I’m not saying the players are not, by the way, but we certainly are as a staff, that’s what you do.
“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 — I’ve told him the truth every step of the way.
“What I’m saying is owners are owners. They don’t warm you up, it just comes and that’s the way it goes.”
Dyche, who only replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou in October, added: “I’m a realist. I understand. The noise here has changed significantly since the last few games. The only thing I’m frustrated with is it’s not a terrible run (of results). But that’s still the modern way football is. Demand is high and that’s changed enormously in the last two years.
“Demand is getting higher and higher and higher and higher. Expectation immediately grows. Sign some players, expectation grows.
“If people want change here and the owner wants to change, that is entirely up to him. But there’s no lack of respect from me to the owner, he’s been first class for me since I’ve been here.
“If he wants to make a change, that is entirely up to him. And if the fans want to change, that’s entirely up to them. All I do is work very, very hard at a club that I care about.”
As well as Postecoglou, who lasted just 39 days, Greek chief Marinakis has also sacked Nuno Espirito Santo this season.
The Portuguese, who is slowly turning West Ham around in what could become a relegation dogfight with Forest, was given the boot in September. The Hammers have cut the gap over the last five games from seven points with Forest winning just once in that period.
It means Marinakis will now need to find someone who can keep his club, who have only lost once in their last six matches, up with 12 games to go.
Fans were torn over the decision to sack Dyche — which came less than 24 hours after Thomas Frank’s dismissal at Spurs — with many saying along the lines of “no better manager than Dyche for a relegation fight”.
Others said they hoped Forest could “find someone who actually knows how to win”.
However, social media was much more unified in its shock at the rate Forest are churning through managers this season.
The East Midlands club have a week until they play next, in the last 16 of the Europa League away at Fenerbahce. Dyche took over with the club in 18th place after just one win in eight games.
After an initial loss to Bournemouth he won four and drew one of his next seven to take them out of the drop zone.
However, a combination of mixed results and the improved form of Leeds and West Ham has left Forest looking over their shoulders once again.
The downturn has seen fans turn on Dyche, with jeers heard after the disappointing draw with Wolves.
The result followed on from Friday’s limp loss at Leeds and of equal concern to the Reds board will be the form Nuno’s Hammers.
Only a last-gasp Manchester United leveller 24 hours earlier stopped them pulling level with Forest. — Sun
