Nottingham Forest are closing in on the appointment of Sean Dyche as their next manager after holding a fresh round of advanced talks over the weekend. The former Everton and Burnley boss is now the clear frontrunner to take charge at the City Ground, with a deal expected to be wrapped up as early as Monday.
Dyche has emerged as the standout candidate following the ruthless sacking of Ange Postecoglou, who was dismissed just 17 minutes after Forest’s 3–0 hammering by Chelsea on Saturday. The club sit 18th in the Premier League table with only one win from eight matches, and owner Evangelos Marinakis has once again turned to experience in a bid to steady the ship.
Postecoglou’s brief reign lasted only 39 days, making it the shortest permanent managerial stint in Premier League history. The Australian failed to deliver a single victory after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo, who was himself sacked three matches into the campaign.
Dyche, 54, has held positive discussions with Forest officials, and sources close to the talks say his chances of landing the job have “improved dramatically” in the past 24 hours. Roberto Mancini and Fulham boss Marco Silva were both sounded out, but Dyche now looks set to take the hot seat.
Silva was admired by Forest’s hierarchy, yet his hefty release clause and Fulham’s reluctance to lose their manager mid-season have made a deal all but impossible. Mancini’s name was also considered, but interest has cooled as Forest push to get Dyche in quickly.
The move would mark a return to familiar territory for Dyche, who was once a youth player at Forest during Brian Clough’s era but never made a senior appearance. Known for his no-nonsense approach and ability to build resilient teams, Dyche’s track record suggests he could be the man to drag Forest clear of the relegation scrap.
Dyche has been out of work since leaving Everton in January after nearly two years at Goodison Park. During his 75 Premier League matches with the Toffees, he secured survival twice, finishing 17th and then 15th, while restoring discipline to a faltering side.
Before that, he spent nearly a decade transforming Burnley into one of the league’s most stubborn outfits, guiding them to two promotions and even a European campaign in 2018. His achievements at Turf Moor earned him widespread respect as one of the most pragmatic and hard-working managers in English football.
Born in Kettering, Dyche’s playing career was forged in the lower leagues, amassing over 500 appearances for clubs such as Chesterfield, Millwall, Bristol City, Watford and Northampton. Now, he stands on the brink of a Premier League return, tasked with rescuing a troubled Forest side desperate for stability and survival.
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