Sean Dyche SACKED by Everton just hours before FA Cup game as two club icons take charge and David Moyes in line for job
DAVID MOYES is poised to make a dramatic return to Everton after Sean Dyche was sacked.
The Toffees’ new owners The Friedkin Group axed Dyche after almost two years as manager THREE HOURS before last night’s 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Peterborough.
SunSport understands Moyes has held talks with the club he spent 11 seasons at before leaving to take charge of Manchester United in 2013.
Billionaire majority owner Dan Friedkin dumped Dyche, 53, after what is believed to have been an angry confrontation with the club’s hierarchy yesterday afternoon.
And Everton confirmed: “Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as 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.”
Dyche’s shock axing came in the aftermath of his demands for cash to spend in this month’s transfer window to bolster a squad that lies only one point above the drop zone.
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He faces a battle for compensation, with his contract — which was due to run out at the end of the season — now torn up.
The Under-18s head coach, Leighton Baines, and club captain Seamus Coleman took charge of last night’s FA Cup tie.
But Toffees chiefs want a new boss in place before Wednesday’s Prem clash against Aston Villa.
Former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham chief Jose Mourinho began the day as the bookies’ odds-on choice.
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But TFG have no interest in pursuing the current Fenerbahce boss.
TFG were interested in Graham Potter before he was yesterday confirmed as West Ham’s new manager, while Middlesbrough’s Michael Carrick and England Under-21 coach and ex-Toffees midfielder Lee Carsley are also on their shortlist.
But Moyes, who dubbed Everton the “people’s club” during his tenure, is favourite to get the nod and ready to return.
He has been jobless since leaving the Hammers in May.
But only last month the Scot, 61, insisted: “I don’t want to be taking jobs where I have to scrap all the time and be round the bottom of the league.
“Most of the time I was at Everton, we were competing for European positions. The last four years at West Ham, three of them have been in Europe.
“I can do a job at a level rather than just avoiding relegation. I’ll wait on the right opportunity.”
Everton have won just 17 points from 19 Prem matches this season and have ONE goal in their last five league games.
Dyche’s final match was Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth.
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Speaking on Tuesday, Dyche knew his job was on the line and claimed he had no problem with Toffees chiefs “succession planning”.
He said: “That should be ongoing at every football club. That’s part of the business, surely.”
Dyche's ups and downs at Everton
SEAN DYCHE was appointed in January 2023 following the disastrous reign of Frank Lampard.
Things couldn't have got off to a better start for the former Burnley manager, with victory over Arsenal in his first game at the helm.
That first season saw the Toffees' battle against relegation go down to the final day of the season, with Dyche masterminding a 1-0 win over Bournemouth to retain their place in the top flight.
The 2023-24 season started positively, but then Everton were hit with a 10-point deduction, which was later reduced to six points.
Despite being hampered by the punishment, Dyche guided Everton to 15th position.
The highlight of the season was a 2-0 win over local rivals Liverpool - their first Merseyside derby win at Goodison for 14 years.
But despite signs of improvement last term, the Toffees have found themselves in a rut again this season, with Dyche leaving with the team just one point clear of the relegation zone.
The distraction of the club's long protracted takeover cannot have helped, but after The Friedkin Group finally got a deal over the line in December, just a few weeks later they decided on a change of manager.