Reputations on line for Postecoglou and owner after Forest upheaval

Nuno's exit inevitable after he went public, but his successor will need to win over the squad and learn from errors

- Will Unwin

Crossing the Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, is rarely a wise move. When Nuno Espírito Santo went public about the deteriorating relationship between the two most important men at the City Ground, a parting of ways became inevitable.

Nuno deserved better after leading Forest back to Europe after 30 years away and his popularity within the club means it will be difficult for Ange Postecoglou to replace him. Players and staff will not immediately embrace the change because of the admiration and warmth they felt for Nuno.

The Portuguese entered a club heading for a relegation battle in December 2023 after Steve Cooper, another heroic figure in Forest's recent past, was sacked. After keeping them up Nuno led them into Europe a year later. It was not only results that he brought but a calmness rarely seen under Marinakis at the City Ground.

Will stability return without him, or will spontaneous combustion be a constant risk?

Nuno was given the news of his dismissal by the sporting director, Ross Wilson, who will soon depart for Newcastle. Wilson, like Nuno, is well respected at Forest and his exit could allow Edu, the global head of football since early July, to have greater influence.