Nottingham Forest’s next managerial appointment will see them make Premier League history following their shock decision to sack Sean Dyche.
The 54-year-old was cut loose in the early hours of Thursday morning following a disappointing 0-0 draw with Wolves.
Forest currently sit 17th in the Premier League table, just three points above the drop zone.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis is sweating on the club’s future in the top-flight and, prior to sacking Dyche, had already relieved Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou of their duties.
Nuno was sacked in September, despite coming close to guiding the club into the Champions League last term.
And Postecoglou’s reign lasted just 39 days before he was axed in October following a dire defeat to Chelsea at the City Ground.
Now, Forest are poised to appoint their fourth permanent manager of the season with Vitor Pereira the frontrunner to take over.
If and when they hire their next boss, they’ll become the first side in Premier League history to go through four permanent men in one single campaign.
Sean Dyche was axed by Nottingham Forest just hours after a 0-0 draw with Wolves
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PA
Pereira was previously manager of Wolves. He replaced Gary O’Neil in December 2024 but lasted just nine months before being cut loose.
It’s been widely reported that the 57-year-old is already in talks with Forest and, if talks progress quickly, could be in charge for next week’s Europa League showdown with Fenerbahce.
Several other candidates have emerged, however.
Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is available, having missed out on a sensational return to Old Trafford to Michael Carrick.
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Solskjaer left Besiktas earlier this season and is believed to be open to a return to management, providing the project is right for him.
Roberto De Zerbi has the backing of some supporters but whether the Italian would go to Forest, and decide to get involved in a relegation dogfight, is unclear.
Thomas Frank, Enzo Maresca and Sam Allardyce are other names that have been put forward by the bookies.
Meanwhile, speaking after Forest’s draw with Wolves, Dyche had addressed speculation over his future by saying: “The owner has been fair to me, without a shadow of a doubt.
“If anyone chooses to change in football now, that’s their decision. We’ve all seen it.
“People can demand change, and then it’s always whether they change or not. I just work very hard. I care about this club. I’ve made that clear. I’m working very hard.
“If the owner wants to make a change, then that’s up to him, and that’s the way football is now, that’s just the reality of it.
Vitor Pereira is the frontrunner to take charge of Nottingham Forest
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PA“But I’m not questioning the owner here. He’s been absolutely fair with me from the beginning to the end, and I’ve been fair with him and told him the truth every step of the way.
“Owners are owners. They don’t warm you up, it just comes, if that’s the way it goes. I’m a realist. I understand the noise here has changed significantly since the last few games.
“And that’s the only thing I’m frustrated about as it’s not a terrible run. But that’s still the modern way football is.
“Demand is high. That’s changed enormously in the last probably two years. Demand is getting higher and higher and higher and higher. Expectation immediately grows, expectation grows.
“So if people will change it, and the owner wants to change, that is entirely up to him, but there’s no lack of respect for me to the owner on how he’s been.
“He’s been first class for me since I’ve been here. And if he wants to make change, that is entirely up to him and if the fans want to change, that’s entirely up to them. All I do is work very, very hard at a club that I care about.”