Everton sacks Roberto Martinez - Frank de Boer in line to replace

Roberto Martinez paid the cost for Everton's Premier League crash when he was calmed of his duties with a game still to be played this season.

The club's board acted quickly to release Martinez in the wake of Wednesday night's 3-0 rout at The Stadium of Light, which kept the Blackcats up and extended Everton's poor run to one win in their last 10 matches.

In any case, the club is considering who to succeed the Spaniard with Frank de Boer - who surrendered from his part as Ajax boss on Thursday - developing as the unmistakable early top choice.

It is pertinent to note that Martinez succeeded David Moyes in 2013 and had three years left on his agreement, having previously driven Wigan to an improbable FA Cup triumph, and took them to eleventh spot in his first season in control.

Be that as it may, a testing current battle drooped to a new low in a 4-0 derby hammering to Liverpool a month ago, and a FA Cup semi-last thrashing to Manchester United everything except finished any trusts Martinez had of holding his part past the late spring.

De Boer remains favourite to land the job after leaving Ajax, having neglected to win back the Eredivisie title from most outstanding adversaries PSV a weekend ago.