Nottingham Forest Relieves Sean Dyche of Coaching Duties Amid Relegation Concerns

omidbasir- Sean Dyche, who began his coaching career with the youth team at Nottingham Forest under the iconic Brian Clough, was appointed head coach only last October. His tenure marked the third managerial change for the Reds since the start of the 2025-26 season.

Following a successful campaign that saw Nuno Espirito Santo lead the team to European qualification, Espirito Santo was relieved of his duties on September 9. Ange Postecoglou, who had recently ended Tottenham’s trophy drought, took over but managed only eight winless matches over a 39-day period before his departure.

Dyche was initially viewed as a viable choice to guide Forest away from relegation threats, yet he concluded his time with the club after 25 games, securing only 10 victories. A particularly disappointing draw against Wolves, where Forest registered 35 attempts on goal without scoring, proved to be the tipping point for club owner Evangelos Marinakis.

In an official statement, Nottingham Forest confirmed: “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 wish them the best of luck for the future. We will be making no further comment at this time.”

This dismissal marks a historic moment, as no Premier League club has ever had four permanent managers in a single season. Reports suggest that former Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo may be in line to take the helm at Forest.

Without a club since his departure from Molineux last November, Pereira struggled to secure wins at the start of the current season but previously managed to navigate Wolves away from relegation in his debut year. The 57-year-old Portuguese is also familiar to Marinakis, having led Olympiacos to a league and cup double in the 2014-15 season.

After being booed off following the Wolves match, Dyche reflected on his future, expressing that while fans may call for change, the decision ultimately lies with the club’s ownership. “I just work very hard. I care about this club. I’ve made that clear. If the owner wants to make a change, then that’s up to him,” he stated.

Ex-Forest striker Rob Earnshaw praised Marinakis for his proactive involvement in the club, emphasizing the importance of personality in football. “I enjoy him being involved. He deserves a lot of credit because he has invested himself to ensure the club’s success. It has been a remarkable journey, and it wouldn’t be Forest if it were boring and without personalities,” Earnshaw noted.

Nottingham Forest, having recently faced a third-round defeat to Wrexham, will not participate in FA Cup matches this weekend. They have until February 19, when they confront Fenerbahce in Europa League knockout phase play-offs, to appoint a new manager. The club has also been linked with former Manchester City and Italy manager Roberto Mancini, as well as Marco Silva, the current Fulham coach, both of whom are known to Marinakis. The new manager will inherit a squad currently positioned just three points above the Premier League relegation zone with 12 matches remaining.