Sean Dyche: It’s ‘absolute nonsense’ to say I have £5m ‘sacking clause’

Sean Dyche has declared his Everton reign a “success” and has hit back at claims he would profit from a £5 million “sacking clause” in his deal.

A midweek Carabao Cup exit has intensified the pressure on Dyche, who is increasingly under siege from some fans after a pointless start to the Premier League season.

But in a staunch defence of his work since being appointed in January 2023, Dyche says he has met all the targets set so far and has taken exception to a false suggestion – mainly published on social media – that he has a financial incentive to lose his job before his contract expires next summer.

“I regard it as a current and ongoing success because people only know that much [signals a small amount] of the challenge,” said Dyche.

“We have spoken about it before, they shouldn’t know everything. It is not fair on supporters to know everything, but there have been huge amounts of shifts here. We have brought in tens and tens of millions in fees, we have got tens of millions off the wage bill, safeguarding the club, trying to develop teams that can excite and win and trying to get young players through the system. All these challenges.

“They are right there in front of everyone’s eyes. I can see it all. Whatever happens next, whether people want me or don’t want me, it is not going to take away the amount of work and effort that has been put in to balance out the situation as best as I can. Not just me, but obviously I am the one who has to head it up, I am the one here every week, I am the one that answers.

“I can speak freely about that, but there are lots of other people as well. The staff included, the players, all of the challenges that have come our way, so if you said stop, stand still now, I would still be proud of everything but the fact is you haven’t said stop, stand still and until that moment comes I will be working my rear off continuing to find a way.”

Unprompted, Dyche took it upon himself to address the erroneous rumour that he agreed a £5 million settlement clause when he joined Everton in the event of him being dismissed before his deal expires, regardless of when that might be.

“What I will correct is that there seems to be a story going round about my contract,” he said. “That is nonsense. My contract is going down day by day. End of story. You might as well get rid of that one. I don’t think it is right when the world makes up stories that then get heat and I then get heat on situations that have nothing to do with me. Absolute fact is that my contract is running down by the minute. That’s it.

“The story was I get paid whether I am here or not or whether I have one day on my contract or 10 years. That is absolute nonsense. Judge me by my work, that’s fine, but don’t try to [question] me as a person because that is not fair and it is just not the case.”

Dyche accepts that there is little sympathy regarding the circumstances in which he is working when results are so poor, but he believes the mitigation should be considered.

“They tell me they want the truth, I give them the truth,” he said. “There is not a flick of a switch and we have solved everything. There are miles to go in the journey of Everton Football Club to get it back to where it wants to be and where it should be.”