Nottingham Forest are scrambling to appoint a new manager at the City Ground, and Sean Dyche ‘is emerging as a leading candidate’ (h/t The Athletic).
The Forest hierarchy, including global head of football Edu Gaspar and global technical director George Syrianos, has held positive talks with Dyche.
They view Dyche as the most realistic and experienced option to steady the ship. Forest are in disarray after sacking Ange Postecoglou at the weekend, just eight games into his reign.
The Australian tactician failed to win a single match after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo in September, leaving Forest 18th in the Premier League with only one victory all season.
A 3–0 hoem defeat against Chelsea was the final straw for owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is now desperate to find stability.
Dyche brings nearly a decade of Premier League experience from his time at Burnley and Everton. He kept Everton in the top flight despite two separate points deductions.
Meanwhile, his tenure at Burnley remains one of the most successful in the club’s history.
His pragmatic, no-nonsense approach will appeal to a Forest squad crying out for structure and identity after months of chaos.
It will also appeal to the hierarchy desperate to hold onto their place in the top flight.
His Premier League record in 332 matches is 93 wins, 91 draws and 148 losses.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes ‘his man-management skills are second to none‘.
Forest’s recruitment team is conducting a thorough process to identify the right fit, with Marco Silva unlikely to leave Fulham and Roberto Mancini ruling himself out.
Dyche is the clear favourite ahead of Thursday’s Europa League tie against Porto.
However, even if Dyche is appointed, Forest’s scattergun approach has been absurd to witness.
From the balanced ideals of Nuno to the ultra-attacking football of Postecoglou, and now to Dyche’s rigid defensive philosophy. There is clearly no direction here.
Marinakis’ decision-making has become increasingly erratic, undoing the steady progress the club had made since its Premier League return.
Forest once had a clear project and identity taking shape. It now feels like chaos dressed as ambition.
Stats from Transfermarkt.
