Nottingham Forest have been plunged into crisis after sacking new head coach Ange Postecoglou before he had even started. He didn’t last long in the post, getting fired after just 39 days in office. The decision comes on the heels of a controversial season. It all began in early December as Nuno Espírito Santo began to express very real fears at the direction of the club and his troubled working relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis. As the club continues to come to terms with its terrible start, big questions are circling about the club’s overall management and direction.
During that time in August, prospective new Wolves manager Nuno Espírito Santo vented his own frustrations to Sky Sports. He said that Nottingham Forest was “very, very far” from what it should be. As he warned about a “significant issue” going into the season, the mood turned ominous. His comments suggested a far too troubling trend to act like the above was a standalone example, especially as it pertained to the club’s management vs. coaching relationships.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s Departure
Nuno Espírito Santo’s short-lived time at Nottingham Forest ended after only seven games after he got the chop by Marinakis. This season, tempers had never been hotter. The high point was when the coach challenged the owner on the field at the City Ground following a fraught 2-2 draw against Leicester City. What this unfortunate incident highlighted was the growing rift between the two. Espírito Santo would later admit that his close relationship with Marinakis wasn’t what it used to be.
His remarks during the interview drew attention, especially when he stated, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” in response to speculation regarding his job security. Many interpreted this as a quiet dig at Edu, technical director for Edu’s former club president Marinakis’ global football empire. This indicates that team performance is suffering because internal discord is hurting operations. Under his leadership, Nottingham Forest took a blitzkrieg approach to the transfer market. They did extremely well in getting players such as Omari Hutchinson and Douglas Luiz over the line.
Ange Postecoglou’s Brief Tenure
With Espírito Santo’s departure, Nottingham Forest subsequently hired Ange Postecoglou on September 9. He signed a two-year contract intended to help restore the club’s fortunes. Postecoglou’s first match against Arsenal on September 13 ended in disappointment. Nottingham Forest suffered a 3-0 defeat while managing a mere one shot on target throughout the match. His time in charge deteriorated fast as he could not manage a victory in his eight matches in charge.
Even then, the damage escalated dramatically. It came to a head when Home supporters booed Postecoglou while that loss to FC Midtjylland eliminated the club from the Europa League. Chants of “sacked in the morning” rang around the City Ground, a true testament to the anger of fans. Just twenty minutes after walking out of his seat at 2-0 down against Arsenal, Marinakis’s hand was forced and he sacked Postecoglou.
“I may have to, to have a second year here, mate.” – Ange Postecoglou
The Impact on Nottingham Forest
With the recent removal of the coaching staff from Nottingham Forest, questions arise about the stability, vision and overall long-term development of the club. Today’s decision to sack both Espírito Santo and Postecoglou is one of many high-profile decisions Marinakis has taken, and not one that the club will look back on fondly. The on-going, abrupt change in leadership would have to affect player morale and performance in the short and long term.
As Nottingham Forest deal with the implications of this difficult decision, attention must now be turned to the next appointment to replace Postecoglou. In response, the club should radically change its governance model. It needs to develop an inviting atmosphere for the players and coaching staff.
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