The end actually came seven days ago. At the Vitality Stadium, Everton had been beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth and everything about Sean Dyche said he was a man who had become distracted.
His responses in a five-minute news conference became increasingly brief, but each statement was carefully scrutinized. One, which referred to his surprise that Jarrad Branthwaite had come up short in the run-up to David Brooks' decisive goal, certainly caused a stir in the Everton dressing room.
There was a feeling of disconnection between several players, who had grown increasingly tired of Dyche. But, most importantly, there were signs that the manager's reserves had practically been depleted. He had been in constant talks with the Friedkin Group (TFG), Everton's new owners, but the energy he was emitting was causing concern.
Was he the man who would continue to guide them forward? The answer, firmly, was “no.” When you have just made a colossal investment but relegation from the Premier League is stalking you like a big cat on the loose, ready to attack, there is no choice but to start making contingency plans.
So on Sunday, the prospect of Graham Potter becoming the new man in charge of Everton was real. The new owners assessed the situation and began due diligence on the former Chelsea boss, making discreet inquiries to find out more about his way of working.
At Finch Farm, Everton's training base, that same day, the feeling that change was coming was real. Those who have been at the club for a long time know the signs and some even felt that a split with Dyche would be announced before the weekend was over.
Sean Dyche stepped down as Everton manager on Thursday, but the decision was already coming
The disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth last Saturday proved to be the final straw for him.
Everton's new owners The Friedkin Group (pictured Dan Friedkin (left) and Ryan Friedkin (right)) felt the 53-year-old was no longer the man to lead the club into a new era.
But Everton paused and, seeing an opportunity, West Ham replaced Potter. The hesitation would have a significant influence on how the next few days would unfold, a sliding doors moment for all involved.
On Monday, with Finch Farm closed and Dyche's team having a scheduled day off (they rarely train on what is called 'day minus three'), Potter headed to meet David Sullivan, West Ham's chairman, and spent the night at home, discussing his vision.
News of Everton's interest emerged while Potter was with Sullivan and, on Tuesday morning, some with knowledge of the situation still felt it was 50:50 whether the 49-year-old would stay in London or head north. West Ham, with more time to work, sealed the deal.
Back on Merseyside, Dyche and Everton's team reunited again for their FA Cup tie against Peterborough. Training had been postponed due to frigid conditions and there was little sign of thawing in the atmosphere around the facility.
When he faced the media earlier in the afternoon, he spoke with honesty and passion, but once again, those present were left with the prevailing impression that everything seemed like “the end of times.” How could it not be when Everton were so closely linked to another manager?
“There are no facts,” Dyche responded. 'No one has come out and said, “By the way, we're talking to all these people.” It's just assumed. That's how it works. Nothing changes for me. Try to do well for the team, win the game and do the right thing that I am doing.
'Resilience is a rare thing in life and I have a lot of it. So far, I think I've handled it pretty well. I'm working very hard with my staff and the players, taking the hits, absorbing them and making sure everyone knows it's my fault. End of.'
However, there are only so many hits a man can take. Dyche had entered the same realm as Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva, Rafa Benitez and Frank Lampard, feeling totally helpless and unable to find solutions. His fate would soon be decided.
There was a feeling of disconnection from some players, who had grown tired of Dyche.
His criticism of Jarrad Branthwaite at Bournemouth certainly caused a stir in the dressing room.
Everton did their due diligence on Graham Potter but he hesitated and West Ham pounced on him.
On Wednesday the situation reached a critical point. TFG had made it clear that the relationship was over. Staff who worked closely with Dyche were told they would be made redundant, and a legal team arrived late in the afternoon to begin working on severance terms.
When Ian Woan and Steve Stone, his trusted allies, left the premises that night, they never returned, but Dyche arrived on Thursday to say goodbye. That night's game, although he had selected the team, was not going to be his problem.
Then Leighton Baines, the under 18 coach, was summoned from the academy and Kevin Thelwell, the director of football, went to the Titanic Hotel, where the team was preparing for Peterborough, to break the news that Dyche had left and Baines and Seamus Coleman. would take over the game.
It is understood that there was a notable rise in the atmosphere. It would be wrong to say there were celebrations but certainly not many – if any – were going to shed tears. This behavior has been seen many times before and is something David Moyes will be fully aware of.
Moyes will be reunited with some familiar faces when he officially steps into Finch Farm once again, 12 years since he left for Manchester United, but a lot has changed about the place in terms of atmosphere, work environment and attitude.
Coleman, who Moyes signed for £60,000 from Sligo Rovers in early 2009, has done his best over the years to instil in new players the standards the Scot demanded of him as a youngster: the need for respect. , professionalism and determination to do the best you can every day.
Too many have come to this club over the years without particularly caring where they were (one player, in the Ancelotti era, did not know that his manager had actually been a two-time European Cup-winning midfielder) and the conversations with Coleman and others, it will be beneficial.
David Moyes will be the man in charge of solving Everton, 12 years after his departure
Two Moyes men, Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines, oversaw the FA Cup clash at Peterborough, but the atmosphere, work environment and attitude must change.
Do not believe that Moyes, who spoke to the Friedkin Group on Thursday and yesterday, will have fooled himself into thinking that he will come in and suddenly everything will be rosy. He knows very well the shortcomings in the squad.
You can guarantee that Everton will get a couple of good results next month (that's what this team tends to do), but what matters is what happens after the initial bounce. Dyche proved unable to move forward and was ultimately left defeated.
After 101 weeks, Dyche ended up in room 101 at Everton. The Friedkin Group, with its high expectations and demand for immediate positive results, will be hoping that Moyes will turn the lights back on at a club that, for too long, has been shrouded in darkness.