Nottingham Forest sack head coach, Sean Dyche

Sean Dyche’s brief spell in charge of Nottingham Forest has come to an abrupt end, with the club parting ways with the former Burnley and Everton manager just months after his appointment

The former Burnley and Everton manager was appointed in October by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis after Ange Postecoglou was relieved of his duties.

Dyche became the third manager to take charge at the City Ground this season, following the earlier sackings of Nuno Espirito Santo and Postecoglou within the opening months of the campaign. Remarkably, Forest are now on course to make unwanted history, as the next appointment will be their fourth permanent manager of the same Premier League season.

Dyche’s exit came just days after a goalless draw against Wolves on Wednesday night, a result that ultimately proved costly. Forest sit only three points above the relegation zone, holding a slim advantage on goal difference over 18th-placed West Ham United.

That cushion is under serious threat, with West Ham gathering momentum under former Forest boss Nuno. The Hammers could already be above Forest but for late goals conceded against Chelsea and Manchester United in recent matches. Only a month ago, Forest’s 2-1 away win at the London Stadium had stretched the gap between the sides to seven points. Now, West Ham are firmly closing in.

Attention has already turned to Dyche’s possible successor. According to The Athletic, ex-Wolves manager Vitor Pereira is emerging as a strong contender for the role. Pereira earned praise last season for dragging Wolves away from relegation danger after replacing Gary O’Neil, overseeing a crucial six-game winning streak that secured their Premier League survival.

His time at Molineux, however, was not without controversy. Despite celebrating survival with supporters in local bars, Pereira departed the club in early November following a heavy 3-0 loss to Fulham. A week earlier, after a defeat to Burnley, he had been involved in a heated exchange that saw him escorted away from Wolves fans.

Even so, Marinakis is believed to admire Pereira’s ability to stabilise struggling sides and may trust him to deliver another escape act at Forest if appointed.

The new manager, if installed quickly, will be thrown straight into a demanding schedule. Forest are set to face Turkish giants Fenerbahce in a two-legged Europa League play-off for a place in the round of 16. An away trip to Turkey next Thursday could be followed just days later by a Premier League showdown at home against defending champions Liverpool.