Everton sack Frank Lampard after less than year in charge as clear favourite emerges to replace Chelsea legend
FRANK LAMPARD has been sacked by Everton after less than a year in charge.
The former Chelsea boss replaced Rafa Benitez last January but has failed to stop the rot at Goodison Park.
And the disappointing 2-0 defeat to relegation rivals 3-2 defeat to relegation rivals West Ham on Saturday proved to be the last straw.
The Telegraph is reporting that majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri ‘held talks held talks with the club’s board over Lampard’s future’, where the decision was made to swing the ace.
Former Burnley boss Sean Dyche and ex-Leeds gaffer Marcelo Bielsa are the two favourites to succeed the Chelsea legend.
Everton legend Wayne Rooney and former chief David Moyes, currently at West Ham, are also in the running.
Defeat to the Hammers has left the Toffees rock bottom of the Premier League table – although they’re two points away from safety.
After the match, a dejected Lampard said of his future: “Those things are not my choice, it is my job to work, focus and keep my head down.
“I have confidence in how I want to coach. There’s difficult conditions that I am aware of.
“I just do my job and talk about what I can affect, and that’s the players trying to get the right results.”
EVERTON NEXT MANAGER
Betfair odds
- Sean Dyche – 5/4
- Marcelo Bielsa – 3/1
- David Moyes – 7/2
- Wayne Rooney – 13/2
- Nuno Espirito Santo – 10/1
- Sam Allardyce – 10/1
- Duncan Ferguson – 16/1
- Graham Potter – 16/1
- Carlos Corberan – 16/1
- Ange Postecoglou – 20/1
- Brendan Rodgers – 20/1
- Mauricio Pochettino – 25/1
- Lucien Favre – 25/1
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It has also been reported that Lampard has been involved in a bust-up with some of his own players.
Midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has been forced to train on his own as a result.
Lampard’s tenure on Merseyside began brightly as they romped to a 4-1 FA Cup win over Brentford.
That was followed by a 3-1 loss at Newcastle but they bounced back with a 3-0 home win over Leeds.
But three consecutive Premier League defeats followed, with an FA Cup win over Boreham Wood sandwiched in between, before they were hammered 5-0 at Tottenham in the top-flight.
A loss to Wolves at Goodison stretched their losing run in the Prem to five matches before a 1-0 triumph over Newcastle on home turf provided some brief respite.
Despite his best efforts, Lampard has failed to unstick the struggling Toffees.
Defeat at the London Stadium has left the Merseysiders with a record of just one win in their last 12 league matches.
Everton registered a mere 15 points out of a possible 60 this season.
The Toffees face the daunting prospect of welcoming league leaders Arsenal to Goodison a fortnight on Saturday.
And the following week, they’ll travel across Stanley Park to face bitter rivals Liverpool in what will no doubt be another fiery affair.
The writing was seemingly on the wall for Lampard when he got the dreaded public vote of confidence from owner Farhad Moshiri earlier this month.
The British-Iranian businessman said: “I have faith in the work being done not only by our manager, but our director of football [Kevin Thelwell] and our board of directors.
“That faith is based on my knowledge of the depth and quality of work being done both at Finch Farm [Everton’s training complex] and the Royal Liver Building [Everton’s administrative HQ) – and of the plan that is in place.
“I am confident that we have skilled, experienced and focused professionals at all levels of the club.
“We are all agreed that our current league position must and will improve.”
He added: “In almost seven years since my arrival at the club, I have significantly increased my investment and our new stadium has become reality.
“We regularly review our performance and initiate change where we feel that the club falls short of standard.
“This has meant that we have seen turnover in managers, directors of football and several board members.
“But always as we have striven to achieve success.
“Whilst, in virtually every instance, change has been supported and encouraged by fans, stability must be the key to progression.”
But Moshiri was coy when asked about giving Lampard the boot as he left the London Stadium.
When asked if Lampard’s time had come to an end, he said “It’s not my decision.”