Sean Dyche sacked: How chaotic day unfolded at Everton

Everton Football Club has been mired in chaos in recent years, and a series of recent events at Goodison Park have once again plunged the club into turmoil. The new owners, the Friedkin Group, had promised when they completed their takeover in December that they would show their commitment to the club "with actions, not words."

They have indeed lived up to their word, with their first major decision being the abrupt termination of Sean Dyche's managerial tenure, a decision made just three hours before their FA Cup third-round match against Peterborough United. Everton U18 coach Leighton Baines was appointed as interim manager, working alongside captain Seamus Coleman, with the former full-back speaking to the media after the 2-0 victory.

Baines stated, "It's definitely been a tough day. It's never good when a manager loses their job, it usually means a difficult period. But even so, we still need to be hopeful and optimistic. The club is changing with new owners and a new stadium. The manager has had to leave, which is not something anyone wanted to see. The arrival of a new manager will bring new opportunities." He added, "The club needs some stability at the moment, and that's the message that's been passed down from the new owners. For now, everyone will accept that."

Dyche's dismissal on Thursday evening, as the team was making final preparations for the cup tie, was shocking – not for the sacking itself, but for the manner in which it was done. While the local authorities met at lunchtime to approve the match going ahead, despite the cold weather in Merseyside, the Friedkin Group's decision was equally cold and ruthless. Dyche was at the club's Finch Farm training ground in the morning and was informed of his dismissal in the afternoon, bidding farewell to staff.

Subsequently, Baines was asked to go to the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool, where the players were meeting, and were informed of Dyche's sacking by director of football Kevin Thelwell. Sources close to the club and the Friedkin Group told BBC Sport that the owners and Dyche felt they had reached the end of the road during their talks this week. It is claimed that Dyche was unaware of the decision at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, when he spoke of "no issues" with the club's "succession plan."

Once he had told those above him that he had taken the team as far as he could, a change was inevitable. The group acted decisively, "relieving Dyche of his duties" at 16:32 GMT, just hours before the 19:45 kick-off. Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson said: "Sean was here this morning, I've never known anything like that before. To sack a manager three or four hours before a game is very unusual. The timing of the sacking has taken everyone by surprise."

Everton fans Chris and his son told BBC Sport while watching the game against Peterborough: "It's disrespectful to Dyche and the team, but he's done his best. It would have been better to announce it the morning after the game." The club's official statement further highlighted the ruthlessness of the sacking – there was no thanks for Dyche's services, nor any acknowledgement of the work he and his team had done in difficult circumstances during their tenure (of less than two years).

Matchday programmes had already been printed and were being sold at the ground, including Dyche's manager's column, in which he wrote of wanting to start "building some positive momentum" after a few disappointing results. He would not get that chance. Former Everton manager David Moyes has been heavily linked with the vacant position, and while BBC Sport has been unable to confirm those reports, he appears to be the frontrunner.

The 61-year-old has been out of work since leaving West Ham United in the summer and is very familiar with his surroundings, having managed at Goodison Park for 11 seasons between 2002 and 2013. He also fits the club's aim of appointing someone with Premier League experience. Former Everton captain Alan Stubbs said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "The best available person at the moment is David Moyes. I can see Moyes being appointed by Everton in the next day or two."

Dyche's departure did not exactly fill Everton fans with excitement, and the match was played in a subdued atmosphere in the cold weather. Former Blues winger Andros Townsend asked on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Why is the atmosphere at Goodison so flat? I thought it would be bouncing." The fans must pick themselves up and get behind the next manager, with the club hoping to appoint a new boss before their Premier League home game against Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Dyche's successor will inherit a team struggling at the wrong end of the table, currently sitting in 16th place, just one point above the relegation zone. Everton have won just three of their 19 Premier League games this season and failed to register a shot on target in Saturday's 0-1 defeat to Bournemouth. Despite scoring twice against lower-league opposition on Thursday, scoring goals in the league will be a major issue for the new manager to address, having only found the net 15 times in 19 league games.

Townsend said: "From a bigger picture point of view, I think this is a major red flag for this new ownership. Whether the decision is right or wrong, it's been done three hours before an FA Cup game. This guy has kept you up for the past two years - one of those years with a points deduction, and still managed to keep them up, and that's how you treat him. But I think there's enough in the Everton dressing room to stay in the Premier League. I don't think they will be near the bottom at the end of the season."

Additional reporting by Julia Boulding for BBC Merseyside.