Exclusive: Nottingham Forest staff beg Evangelos Marinakis not to sack Steve Cooper
Nottingham Forest staff have begged owner Evangelos Marinakis not to sack Steve Cooper in a last-ditch attempt to keep him at the club, sources have told Football Insider.
The 44-year-old’s job is hanging by a thread with the club now turning their attention to agreeing terms with Nuno Espirito Santo after sounding out another ex-Wolves boss, Julen Lopetegui.
It is believed that a number of senior Forest staff have approached Marnakis and pleaded with him to maintain the status quo with the popular Cooper remaining in the dugout.
But it appears that Marinakis has made up his mind that he wants to appoint a new manager and that it is only a matter of time before Cooper is replaced.
Football Insider revealed on 6th December that the manager has told friends he expects to be sacked “soon” and that stance has not subsequently changed.
Since then, Forest have been thrashed 5-0 at Fulham, held Wolves to a creditable 1-1 draw and lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham.
Forest have won only one of their last 13 matches and are 17th in the Premier League table, only one place above the relegation zone, albeit with a five-point advantage over Luton Town in 18th.
Cooper’s relationship with Marinakis has become increasingly strained in recent times and whispers about a replacement being lined up behind the scenes have also had an effect.
Cooper has previously twice come close to losing his job at Forest – in September 2022 and the spring of this year.
However, it is believed that this time there is a growing sense that the end of his time at the City Ground is near.
Nuno is out of work after leaving Saudi club Al-Ittihad earlier this year. He had a very successful spell at Wolves from 2017-21, leading the club from the Championship to consecutive seventh placed Premier League finishes and the quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2020.
But he lasted barely four months at Tottenham after taking the job in summer 2021. Nuno is a client of Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes and has also managed FC Porto and Valencia.
Cooper, who is under contract until June 2025, led Forest to safety last season after big-money spending from owner Evangelos Marinakis.
They finished 16th in the table despite sitting bottom in October 2022 – when the Welshman was handed a new contract at the club.
But this season, Marinakis is eyeing a return on his investment and Football Insider revealed on 30th November that he has targeted a top-ten Premier League finish this season.
In other news, Nottingham Forest told to pay £25m for top January target.