Sean Dyche simply 'did not rate' three Nottingham Forest players ahead of his sacking following the goalless draw with rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground on Wednesday night, according to the Daily Mail.
The pressure had been building on the 54-year-old manager ahead of the clash with Rob Edwards' men, with Forest without a Premier League win since January 6 when they beat fellow strugglers West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Taking one point from matches against two other lowly teams, in Leeds and Wolves, was deemed as the final straw by Evangelos Marinakis, who wielded the axe in the early hours of Thursday morning and begins the search for the club's fourth manager of 2025-26.
The draw left the Tricky Trees in 17th position, three points above the Hammers in the final relegation spot.
Dyche Did Not Like Certain Nottingham Forest Players
Sean Dyche
According to the Daily Mail, Dyche turned the Nottingham Forest dressing room against him with his actions, including throwing his squad under the bus following their FA Cup exit against Championship side Wrexham last month.
Some Forest players are also said to have felt tired going into matches because of the emphasis on running drills in training, as per the report.
Dyche also decided there were certain players in the Reds' squad he simply did not rate, including winger Dilane Bakwa and defender Jair Cunha, who cost more than £40m.
The former Everton boss was also left unimpressed with January transfer window addition Luca Netz, with the 54-year-old wanting experienced Premier League players like Lewis Dunk, Dwight McNeil and Nick Pope through the door last month instead.
Where Will Nottingham Forest Turn Next?
Vitor Pereira
Vitor Pereira
According to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs, Forest owner Marinakis is ready to turn to a manager who was also sacked by a Premier League club earlier this season - Vitor Pereira.
The Portuguese coach was sacked by bottom-of-the-table Wolves on November 2 following a heavy home defeat by Fulham, and the club are still yet to reach double figures in points even after their draw at the City Ground on Wednesday.
Forest are in 'direct talks' with Pereira according to Jacobs, with the 57-year-old still a free agent following his exit from Molineux last year.
Fulham boss Marco Silva has been a long-term target for Forest and Marinakis, but the club have been given no encouragement that he would be willing to make a mid-season switch to the club.