Forest set to sack Steve Cooper may engage Espirito Santo
Steve Cooper is facing the sack at Nottingham Forest after a run of one win in 13 matches, with Nuno Espirito Santo a leading contender to step in.
Mail Sport revealed on November 25 that Cooper was under huge pressure after Forest were beaten 3-2 at home by Brighton and he was close to being removed after the 5-0 defeat at Fulham on December 6, as well as last weekend having lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham.
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The club are five points above the relegation zone and if Cooper leaves, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is keen to appoint a successor in time for Saturday’s clash with Bournemouth.
When he took charge of Forest in September 2021, they were bottom of the Championship.
The following May, Cooper had led Forest to the Premier League for the first time this century and then kept them in the top flight with a game to spare.
The 43-year-old was close to the sack twice last season and now Marinakis, who has spent close to £300million in the last three transfer windows, has made his move.
Yet Cooper is believed to have turned down two Premier League jobs during his time at Forest and Crystal Palace are thought to have been impressed by his work at the City Ground.
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Marinakis had targeted a top-10 finish this term following last season’s narrow escape and had been increasingly frustrated with recent displays.Unfortunately Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi who has been banging goals for the team with a record of 14 goals in 37 matches since joining the side last year has been sidelined with injuries with no immediate date of return to the pitch.