Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is still considering several candidates to replace Ange Postecoglou as head coach, despite being close to agreeing terms with Sean Dyche.
Postecoglou was sacked on Saturday after a 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea, with confirmation from the club coming just 18 minutes after full-time.
Dyche is understood to be the frontrunner to replace him, but other names are still in the frame, including Roberto Mancini and Marco Silva.
Marinakis has a long-term admiration for the Fulham boss since Silva managed his Olympiacos team, but getting the Portuguese is not straightforward despite his contract currently expiring next summer.
Forest will struggle to pay compensation for any new manager right now, Sky Sports News has been told, because of their PSR restrictions, which had not budgeted for three different managers in the same season, especially after just eight games.
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Ange Postecoglou applauded a rapidly-emptying City Ground after Nottingham Forest lost 3-0 to Chelsea. He was sacked just minutes later
Forest have already paid significant compensation to Nuno Espírito Santo and his backroom staff, who were sacked in September, and now face a similar, hefty bill for sacking Postecoglou and his coaches.
Like Dyche, Mancini is out of work and available without compensation. Forest’s bosses will not act until the owner and chairman Marinakis has made his final decision. Fulham have not received any approach for Silva as it stands.
Why next appointment is crucial for Marinakis
Marinakis knows this next managerial appointment is key in trying to produce some stability and belief in the dressing room and among the supporter base after a damaging period for the club.
In that regard, Forest’s hierarchy currently believe Dyche is the best man to steady the ship, organise and motivate the players, and crucially keep the club in the Premier League despite having ambitions of finishing further up the table.
Sean Dyche was sacked by Everton earlier this year
Another key demand from the owner is for whoever takes over to maximise the significant investment that was made in the playing squad in the summer.
Forest spent more than £180m in the transfer window, and £130m of that talent wasn’t in the matchday squad against Chelsea. This was another area of dispute between the owner and Postecoglou, Sky Sports News has been told.
Despite the importance of the appointment, Forest’s bosses are keen to move quickly, with the Europa League game against Porto to come on Thursday.
Marinakis’ busy start to the season
August 15: In the first week of the Premier League season, Nuno Espirito Santo admits his “unbalanced” side have a “major problem” as the Premier League returns, warning they are “very, very far” from where they should be.
August 15: Forest then advance on a quadruple deal for Omari Hutchinson, Douglas Luiz, James McAtee and Arnaud Kalimuendo.
August 22: A week later, Nuno says his relationship with Marinakis is “not the same” and admits “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” in response to reports his position at the club is under threat.
August 22: Marinakis is understood to be “baffled” by Nuno’s comments, and there has been no intention of sacking him as the club’s manager.
August 24: Nuno takes charge of Forest’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace – and calls for a goalkeeper and two full-backs to complete his squad in the transfer window.
August 29: After Forest’s Europa League draw, Marinakis says Nuno is the “right man for the job” and “everything is solid” between him and the head coach. He also admits there are talks planned during the international break.
August 31: In what would end up being his final interview as Forest boss, Nuno reveals his desire to stay on in the job and says there was direct communication with Marinakis.
September 1: Forest deliver on Nuno’s demands for two full-backs and a goalkeeper on Deadline Day – completing deals for Nicolo Savona, Oleksandr Zinchenko and John Victor, while winger Dilane Bakwa also joins.
September 8: Nuno is sacked as Forest head coach.
September 9: Forest move quickly to appoint Ange Postecoglou as Nuno’s successor, with the Australian seen at the Forest training ground by lunchtime.
October 18: Postecoglou is sacked after failing to win any of his eight matches in charge. Advanced talks with Sean Dyche revealed just hours after Ange exit.
Nottingham Forest’s upcoming fixtures
- October 23 – Porto, Europa League
- October 26 – Bournemouth, Premier League
- November 1 – Man Utd, Premier League
- November 6 – Sturm Graz, Europa League
- November 9 – Leeds Utd, Premier League