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Nottingham Forest has dismissed manager Ange Postecoglou to bring an end to his eight-match horror run in the hotseat. The ruthless call follows their 3-0 home defeat against Chelsea on Saturday.
The 60-year-old Australian found himself facing mounting pressure having failed to secure victory in his opening seven fixtures at the helm. Forest has already been touted with potential successors - including Sean Dyche amongst the names being discussed.
Though they created opportunities throughout the encounter, second-half strikes from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Blues skipper Reece James condemned Forest to a comprehensive 3-0 reverse at the City Ground. Postecoglou, who became the first Forest boss in the club's history to remain winless through his initial eight matches, had been brought in this campaign following Nuno Espirito Santo's departure from the East Midlands outfit.
In an official statement, the club confirmed: "Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect.
"The Club will make no further comment at this time."
The move follows club owner Evangelos Marinakis being spotted leaving his seat with 67 minutes played. Forest were trailing 2-0 at that point.
That particular moment sealed the inevitable outcome, according to TNT analyst Peter Crouch. "I think the decision was made as soon as he [the chairman] left his seat," he remarked following the announcement.
"The empty seat spoke volumes. Myself and Glen (Hoddle) were discussing this off air.
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"It was pretty obvious the decision was going to be made. The fact it has been made quite so soon... I thought he might have left the dust settle a couple of hours, but this chairman certainly doesn't mess about."
Postecoglou's dismissal also arrives less than 24 hours after his impassioned defence of his achievements.
"I said last year [while in charge at Tottenham] in my second year I always win things, right? And what's the key to that?" He said.
"That I'm there in my second year, because it takes a bit of time. But the story always ends the same: you leave me here, let me do my job, it'll end the same ... with a trophy.
"If I don't and I'm removed, well, what can I do about it? I can't win in this situation in terms of trying to convince people. You either see what you see or you don't; either way it doesn't affect me."
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