In a stunning move that has rocked the Premier League, Nottingham Forest has parted ways with head coach Sean Dyche after only 17 matches in charge. The club confirmed the decision on Thursday, just hours after a frustrating 0-0 draw against bottom-of-the-table Wolves.
Forest now sit three points clear of the relegation zone with 12 games left in the season. The sacking comes amid mounting pressure on the team, which has struggled to find consistency despite glimpses of promise under Dyche.
The club issued a brief statement thanking Dyche and his staff for their efforts. ‘We appreciate the hard work of Sean and his team during their time with us and wish them all the best for the future,’ it read. No further details were provided.
Dyche, 54, took over in October, replacing Ange Postecoglou on a contract until the summer of 2027. Remarkably, Postecoglou lasted just 39 days himself, following the dismissal of Nuno Espirito Santo after only three games into the 2025-26 campaign.
Post-match against Wolves, Dyche had remained defiant. ‘My relationship with the owner has been good. If someone wants to make a change in football now, that’s their decision. We’ve all seen it. People can call for change, and then it either happens or it doesn’t. I just work very hard. I care about this club. I’ve made that clear. I’m working very hard.’
On a brighter note, Forest’s European campaign remains alive. They finished 13th in the Europa League group stage with four wins, two draws, and two losses from eight games, advancing to the knockout rounds. They face Fenerbahce in the last-16 tie later this month, with the first leg on February 19.
Domestically, cup dreams are over. They exited the EFL Cup in September under Postecoglou, losing 3-2 to Swansea in the third round. Last month, under Dyche, they fell to Wrexham in the FA Cup third round via penalties.
As Forest searches for their next manager, fans are left wondering if this bold decision will spark a survival push or plunge them deeper into trouble. The Premier League’s bottom battle just got even more intense.