Everton have parted ways with manager Frank Lampard just short of a week after he began his tenure in charge of the Toffees, according to reports.
The 2-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday proved to be the final nail in the former England international’s coffin at Goodison Park.
The former Chelsea boss took the job on Merseyside in January 2022, and did enough to keep Everton in the Premier League in the final week of the season. The sale of Richarlison and lack of fitness from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, however, have left goals difficult to come by and they have scored just 15 all season, the second fewest in the Premier League.
And their fourth defeat in five games – in a relegation six-pointer against West Ham – has left the Toffees two points short of safety and just a place off the foot of the Premier League, a spot occupied by Southampton, who beat Lampard’s side last week.
It has been a miserable few weeks at Goodison, with directors forced to stay away from the ground during that defeat to Saints last week for their own safety, such has been the discontent in the city.
The decision to appoint Lampard was seen as a brave appointment at the time, having flattered to deceive at Chelsea and Derby in previous roles, and having spent €78.2 million in the summer window, was expected to significantly improve upon last season’s disappointment, but with just three wins to their name, the owners were left with no choice but the cut their losses.
Who will be next in the hotseat?
Also in the running are two more former Premier League managers, with Marcelo Bielsa and Nuno Espirito Santo both among the contenders, while former Everton legends David Moyes and Wayne Rooney are also thought to be under consideration.
In an ironic twist however, Moyes’ win as West Ham boss may have ruled him out, with the three points taken at Everton’s expense going a long way to relieving some of the pressure on his own underperforming side.
