Sam Allardyce was fired as Everton manager on today after his pragmatic style of football proved unpopular with fans despite helping to keep the team in the Premier League.

Allardyce lasted seven months at Everton after signing an 18-month deal with the northwest club in late November when it was near the relegation zone. Everton finished the season in eighth place on Sunday.

However, that wasn’t enough to satisfy Everton supporters who openly voiced their displeasure at the team’s often dour approach in the final games of the season.

British media reported that Marco Silva, who has managed Hull and Watford in the Premier League over the last two seasons, could take over.

Everton tried to bring Silva in from Watford before settling on Allardyce as the replacement for the fired Ronald Koeman. Watford filed a complaint to the Premier League about Everton’s conduct in approaching Silva, who eventually left Watford in January.