Nottingham Forest is searching for its fourth manager of the 2025-26 Premier League season after relieving Sean Dyche of his duties on Thursday. The decision comes after a goalless draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night, a result that extended Forest’s winless run to three games and left them just three points above the relegation zone.
Dyche, appointed in October, lasted just 114 days in the role. His departure follows those of Nuno Espírito Santo, who began the season as head coach, and Ange Postecoglou, whose tenure was even briefer at 40 days. The rapid turnover in the managerial position raises serious questions about the stability at the City Ground and the expectations placed on those tasked with guiding the club.
The club’s statement, released in the early hours of Thursday, was succinct: “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that 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 we wish them the best of luck for the future. We will be making no further comment at this time.”
While Dyche oversaw notable victories against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, and secured progression to the Europa League knockout stages, recent form proved to be his undoing. Wednesday’s match against Wolves, where Forest registered a remarkable 35 shots without finding the back of the net – the most by any Premier League team since 2016 – appears to have been the final straw.
Dyche himself appeared to anticipate the outcome following the draw at Molineux. “The owner has been fair to me, without a shadow of a doubt,” he said after the match. “If anyone chooses to change in football now, that’s their decision. People can demand change, and then it’s always whether they change or not. I just work very hard. I care about this club. I’m working very hard. If the owner wants to make a change, then that’s up to him, and that’s the way football is now, that’s just the reality of it.”
The club has already begun the search for a replacement, and former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Vitor Pereira has emerged as the leading candidate. Sources indicate that talks with Pereira are underway. This would mark a return to the Premier League for the Portuguese coach, who was previously sacked by Wolves in September, despite having secured their Premier League status the previous season.
Pereira’s previous connection with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, having managed Olympiakos in 2015, is believed to be a significant factor in his candidacy. Marinakis’s relationship with previous managers, Nuno Espírito Santo and Postecoglou, both ended acrimoniously, highlighting a pattern of swift decisions and a clear desire for control.
Forest’s turbulent managerial situation is further complicated by their upcoming Europa League tie against Fenerbahce next Thursday. The club will need to swiftly appoint a new head coach to provide stability and prepare the team for the European competition.
The club’s seventh-place finish last season, securing European football for the first time in over two decades, feels distant now. Nuno Espírito Santo, who guided Forest to that success, was rewarded with a new three-year contract in June 2025, only to be dismissed in September following a breakdown in his relationship with Marinakis. Postecoglou’s subsequent dismissal after just 39 days further underscored the owner’s willingness to make drastic changes.
Dyche, a former Forest trainee who resides in Nottingham, arrived with a reputation for building resilient teams. His appointment was initially met with optimism, particularly after a victory over Porto in his first game in charge and a notable 3-0 win at Liverpool a month later. However, a recent run of just two wins in ten Premier League games, coupled with an FA Cup exit to Championship side Wrexham, ultimately proved insufficient to save his job.
The situation at Nottingham Forest is a stark reminder of the pressures facing Premier League managers and the increasingly impatient nature of club ownership. The club’s search for stability continues, with the hope that the appointment of Vitor Pereira will finally bring a period of calm and allow Forest to consolidate their position in the top flight.
