Everton have sacked Sean Dyche as their manager just three hours before their FA Cup third-round tie against Peterborough United on Thursday night.
The Toffees are in another fight against relegation but the timing of dismissal will raise eyebrows with it being so close to kick-off. They are playing at 7.45pm with the news breaking at 4.25pm.
Club legend Leighton Baines and current captain Seamus Coleman will take charge of first-team duties against The Posh.
In a short statement, the Merseyside outfit wrote: 'Everton Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as Senior Men’s First Team Manager with immediate effect.