Nottingham Forest sack manager Dyche

February 12, 2026 No Comments

Nottingham Forest sack manager DycheImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Sean Dyche took over as Nottingham Forest boss in OctoberByNick Mashiter

Football reporter

20 minutes ago

155 Comments

Nottingham Forest have sacked Sean Dyche as head coach after less than four months in charge and are looking for their fourth boss of the season.

Forest were held to a goalless draw at home by bottom club Wolves on Wednesday and are just three points above the Premier League relegation zone with 12 games remaining.

Dyche, 54, succeeded Ange Postecoglou in October and had signed a contract until the summer of 2027.

“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach,” a statement read.

“We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the club and we wish them the best of luck for the future. We will be making no further comment at this time.”

Wasteful Forest held at home to Wolves

Postecoglou lasted just 39 days in the job after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked just three matches into the 2025-26 campaign.

Dyche took over at the City Ground with Forest 18th in the table after one win in eight games during a difficult start to the season.

After a 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth in his first match in charge, Dyche led Forest to four wins and one draw in their next seven to guide them out of the drop zone.

A run of four consecutive defeats followed, but Dyche’s side responded with a four-match unbeaten run – including a 2-1 win at fellow strugglers West Ham and a resilient goalless draw with leaders Arsenal.

However, the improved form of Leeds United and West Ham has kept Forest mired in the relegation battle.

Forest finished 13th in the Europa League group table, with four wins, two draws and two defeats in their eight matches, to reach the knockout phase.

They face Turkish side Fenerbahce over two legs this month for the chance to reach the last 16, with the first leg taking place next Thursday.

Forest are out of both domestic cup competitions, losing 3-2 to Swansea under Postecoglou in the EFL Cup third round in September and exiting the FA Cup on penalties to another Championship side, Wrexham, in the third round under Dyche last month.

Missed Champions League chances

After being in contention for Champions League qualification for much of last season, Forest picked up just eight points from their final eight matches.

They finished seventh and qualified for the Conference League but were moved into the Europa League for 2025-26 at Crystal Palace’s expense after the Eagles were deemed to be in breach of multi-club ownership rules.

During that downturn in form, Nuno’s relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis deteriorated and he was sacked in September.

Dyche was on the books of Forest as a youth-team player in the late 1980s when Brian Clough was manager, but never made a first-team appearance.

He was previously in charge of Everton before being sacked after just under two years in charge of the Toffees in January 2025.

Prior to that Dyche spent nearly a decade as Burnley manager between October 2012 and April 2022, twice winning promotion to the top flight and helping the Clarets qualify for Europe for the first time since 1967.

He also had a stint in charge of Watford for the 2011–12 season, only to lose his job following a change of ownership.