Steve Cooper is set to remain the Nottingham Forest but results must improve immediately. Forest is only one point above the bottom three on goal differential, having won none of their last eight games. On Tuesday, they suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of relegation rivals, Leeds, fueling rumors about Cooper’s future, but Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has backed his manager.
“No one denies that our team is in a difficult position in the Premier League, but we want to put a stop to the speculation and inaccurate and disruptive media reporting by confirming that Steve Cooper is still our manager at Nottingham Forest,” the club said in a statement. “We have all been dissatisfied with recent performances, and it is evident that much more work has to be done to solve this promptly. Results and performance must improve immediately. Now is the time for everyone involved with our club – from us as owners to the board, our supporters, backroom staff, coaches, and players – to band together and fight to keep us in the Premier League. There will be no time for distractions, rumors, or speculation. There is only time for hard work, effort, Steve and the players’ commitment to attaining the results we need, and, of course, the fantastic support of Nottingham Forest supporters.”
Cooper, who led Forest to promotion by winning the Championship play-off final last season, signed a new deal in October 2022, amid concerns that he would be fired as the club struggled to pick up points. Although their results have improved, the specter of relegation has returned to haunt Nottingham once more.
“I respect the question and fully understand it, but I’m not that type of person,” Cooper said. “I always consider the larger good of the club, therefore any concern, disappointment, or frustration I’m experiencing right now stems from the fact that Forest lost a game in which they might have done so much better. That’s just the way I am. I’ve disciplined myself to only focus on what I can control and to work as hard as I can every day, believing in my work and staying faithful to it. That’s exactly where I am.”
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