Two managers have rejected the chance to take the Everton job after the Toffees decided to sack Frank Lampard on Monday.
The club released a statement confirming they'd parted ways with Lampard on the back of Saturday's 2-0 defeat to West Ham United.
Jarrod Bowen's brace in the first half was enough to condemn Everton to their 11th defeat of the season and leave them 19th in the table, level on points with bottom-side Southampton.
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Everton confirmed Lampard's coaching staff would also be leaving the club, with Paul Tait and Leighton Baines taking first-team training until a successor is appointed.
Their next game is against league leaders Arsenal on February 4, giving owner Farhad Moshiri enough time to decide on a successor.
His search has already got off to a poor start, per the Times. Former Leeds United Marcelo Bielsa, who was favourite for the job on Monday evening, has already informed Everton he will not be taking charge.
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The 67-year-old helped guide Leeds back to the Premier League in 2020 and achieve a ninth-place finish the following season.
Bielsa is said to be the first choice for Moshiri, so it remains to be seen if they make a second approach. He's been out of work since being replaced by Jesse Marsch at Elland Road in February.
Another name who has been mooted is Brentford boss Thomas Frank, according to Vital Everton. He helped the Bees earn promotion via the playoffs in 2021, then guided them to a respectable 13th-place finish in their debut campaign.
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It's gone even better for Brentford this season. They currently sit eighth in the table and boast home wins over Manchester United and Liverpool.
Frank is seen as a hero at Brentford and isn't interested in a move to Merseyside. It means Everton are back to the drawing board in regards to replacing Lampard.
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville compared the situation at Goodison Park to that of Newcastle United's plight under previous owner Mike Ashley.
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He explained on Monday Night Football: "It reminds me of Mike Ashley’s time at Newcastle.
"When a manager got sacked you sort of felt disconnect between fans, owners, players, manager - maybe not between the fans and the manager actually because I think that the fans were behind Frank - and particular at the end of last season, that special atmosphere that was created at Goodison Park.
"A tinge of sadness I suppose on the English managers side of things - only now three in the league currently with Frank going and Steven Gerrard going, but we always knew Saturday was a high-stakes game. West Ham struggling like mad, big club."
Everton are reportedly wary of hiring a 'firefighter' such as former Burnley boss Sean Dyche, despite their precarious position in the league table.
Topics: Everton, Marcelo Bielsa, Premier League