Danny Murphy was left red-faced after his televised recommendation to retain Sean Dyche as Nottingham Forest manager backfired spectacularly just moments later.
The former midfielder had appeared on Match of the Day to argue that Forest would be foolish to part ways with the 54-year-old, insisting no better candidate existed for their relegation fight.
However, Murphy’s confident assessment proved embarrassingly premature when news broke of Dyche’s sacking shortly after the programme aired.
Supporters wasted no time ridiculing the pundit’s timing on social media, with one commenting: “Aged well Danny.”
Another fan quipped: “This aged like milk,” while a third simply wrote: “Annnnd he’s gone.”
Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis wielded the axe following a frustrating goalless stalemate at home to Wolves, who sit rock bottom of the Premier League table.
The dismissal marked the club’s third managerial sacking of the current campaign, demonstrating his ruthless approach to underperformance.
Sean Dyche was axed by Nottingham Forest just hours after a 0-0 draw with Wolves | PA
Dyche’s record at the City Ground proved insufficient to save him, with the former Burnley boss managing just six victories from 18 top-flight fixtures.
His recent form had deteriorated further still, securing only two wins from his final ten league matches in charge.
The 17th-placed Reds had been jeered off the pitch by disgruntled supporters following Wednesday evening’s disappointing draw against the basement club.
Five facts about the Premier League | PA/GETTY/REUTERS/GBNEWS
During his Match of the Day appearance, Murphy had been emphatic in his support for the beleaguered manager.
“I think for this battle at the bottom you couldn’t have a better manager than him,” Murphy stated.
“He’s been there and done it, he stays calm.”
The pundit went further, warning the club against making a change: “I think they would be crazy to get rid of him but it doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen.”
Murphy also expressed doubt that any replacement could match Dyche’s credentials, adding: “I don’t think there’s a manager you could bring in that is as capable as he is.”
Those words proved remarkably short-lived.
Evangelos Marinakis is currently looking for Sean Dyche’s replacement at Nottingham Forest
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GETTYSpeaking just hours before his departure, Dyche appeared to sense his fate was sealed.
“If anyone chooses to change in football now, that’s their decision. People change, we’ve all seen it,” he remarked.
The 54-year-old praised Marinakis’s treatment of him throughout his tenure: “The owner has been absolutely fair with me from the beginning to the end, and I’ve been fair with him I’ve told him the truth every step of the way.”
Dyche also offered a philosophical observation about the modern game: “What I’m saying is owners are owners. They don’t warm you up, it just comes and that’s the way it goes.”
His spell lasted merely 114 days and 25 matches, despite holding a contract running until 2027.
