LONDON: Everton have sacked manager Frank Lampard less than one year after his appointment in Merseyside.

The Toffees currently sit second-bottom of the Premier League table, joint with basement club Southampton on 15 points after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham. Former Burnley boss Sean Dyche is the favourite to replace Lampard.

Everton are winless across their last eight Premier League fixtures and have won only one in their last 12.

Defeat at fellow strugglers West Ham United on Saturday was Everton’s ninth loss in 12 Premier League games. They are second from bottom of the table with 15 points from 20 matches, above Southampton only on goal difference.

Former England midfielder Lampard, 44, replaced Rafael Benitez in January 2022 with the team 16th in the table and helped Everton avoid relegation.

The club thanked Lampard and his coaching staff “for their service during what has been a challenging 12 months”.

A statement added: “Frank and his team’s commitment and dedication have been exemplary throughout their time at the club, but recent results and the current league position meant this difficult decision had to be taken.”

Coaches Joe Edwards, Paul Clement, Ashley Cole and Chris Jones have also left Everton but Alan Kelly stays on as goalkeeping coach.

Everton said they had “started the process to secure a new manager”.

Former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is on the list of candidates under discussion as a potential successor to Lampard.

The 67-year-old Argentine, who is admired by Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, has not worked since being sacked by Leeds in February last year, although he remains a hero at Elland Road for taking the club back into the Premier League.

Former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was discussed by Everton’s board before Lampard’s appointment a year ago and is available after leaving St Mary’s in November.

And an outside candidate who has admirers at Goodison Park is West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan, who has overseen a revival at The Hawthorns since his appointment in October.

The former Huddersfield Town boss also worked on Bielsa’s staff at Leeds.

Paul Tait and Leighton Baines will take training until a new manager is appointed.

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