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Frank Lampard has been sacked by Everton after a dismal run of form left them joint-bottom of the Premier League table. Although owner, Farhad Moshiri, had offered his support for Lampard in recent weeks, the Merseyside club have taken the decision to relieve Lampard of his duties with the club’s Premier League status at risk.
The decision to sack the former Chelsea player comes just over a year since Rafael Benitez was sacked by the club. Although Lampard was able to save the club from relegation last season, he has seen them slump further down the table than ever before this time around.
The 2-0 loss to West Ham at the weekend seems to have been the final straw for the Moshiri, who have now fired six managers in seven years. The British-Iranian Businessman has come under intense fire from Everton fans himself over the past 12 months and the decision to sack Lampard is unlikely to relieve any of that.
Although many Everton fans had perhaps conceded that Lampard wasn’t going to be the man to turn their fortunes around on the pitch, they appreciated his honesty and willingness to dig in when the going got tough.
The circus continues at Goodison
The sacking of Lampard is just another episode in the soap opera that is Everton Football Club. In recent weeks, fan discontent has reached unprecedented levels with players being confronted in car parks and board members reportedly being assaulted.
Certain board members, including Bill Kenwright, were advised not to attend the last match at Goodison Park against Southampton due to concerns over their safety. With results worsening and Lampard now gone, it is unlikely that any board member will be present for their next home game either.
Kenrwight and Moshiri were both in attendance at the London Stadium at the weekend, however, to oversee Frank Lampard’s final game in charge. Afterwards, Moshiri remarkably told reporters that it wasn’t up to him whether Lampard would stay in the job or not.
With that decision now set in stone, the search will begin for Everton’s new manager. With the threat of relegation more real than ever, it is absolutely pivotal that the board gets the decision right otherwise Championship football almost certainly awaits.
Two of the candidates rumoured to be at the top of the list are Sean Dyche and Wayne Rooney. While Rooney has a significant history with the football club, it would be a huge gamble to take on someone who has only managed in the Championship and MLS. Dyche, on the other hand, has a proven track record of keeping clubs in the Premier League.
The need for points
Whoever gets appointed as the new manager knows that they will need to start picking up points instantly. Next up for the Toffees is a clash with league leaders, Arsenal, before a huge Merseyside derby with Liverpool at Anfield.
They are already out of both cup competitions so the sole focus will be on Premier League survival which would suit a manager like Dyche. He has said recently that he is ready for a return to management but was waiting for the right opportunity.
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