Steve Cooper: Almost feels like Nottingham Forest couldn’t wait to get rid, says Glenn Murray

Glenn Murray, the former Nottingham Forest striker, has expressed his views on the recent sacking of manager Steve Cooper in what he describes as a move that “almost feels like they couldn’t wait to get rid of him.” Cooper’s departure from the club comes on the heels of a string of disappointing results, including five defeats in the last six games and just one win in 13 matches.

Cooper, who took charge of Forest in September 2021 when they were languishing at the bottom of the Championship, managed to secure promotion to the Premier League in his first season and ensured their top-flight survival with a 16th-place finish. His achievements were lauded by the Forest faithful, who hadn’t seen their team in the Premier League for 23 years.

Glenn Murray, who spent a season with Forest towards the end of his career, believes that Cooper could have kept the club safe for another year in the Premier League. However, the decision to part ways with him raises questions about the club’s intentions. “It almost feels like they could not wait to get rid of him in some way and bring someone else in,” Murray noted. He also emphasized the challenge Cooper faced in managing a squad that underwent significant changes following their promotion.

Nottingham Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, praised Cooper’s role in guiding the club back to the Premier League and assured that he would always be welcome at the City Ground. Meanwhile, the club is reportedly in talks with former Wolves and Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo as Cooper’s potential replacement.

Cooper’s departure has left many Forest fans reflecting on his impact and potential future success at another club, with Crystal Palace rumored to be interested in his services. Rich Ferraro from the Nottingham Forest Podcast described it as the end of a relationship and expressed the possibility of “seller’s remorse” if Cooper thrives elsewhere.

As for Nuno Espirito Santo, some Forest fans may have reservations about his appointment, but there is optimism regarding his ability to mold a squad, as he did at Wolves, even with a high turnover of players. Nuno’s past success in getting Wolves promoted from the Championship and achieving respectable Premier League finishes has fans hopeful for the future.

In analyzing Nuno’s potential impact at Forest, it’s worth noting that he will need to navigate the strong support and connection that Cooper had with the fans. Much like Cooper did at Forest, Nuno created a special bond with supporters at Wolves, and his success there was built on specific recruitment and playing styles. The challenge for Nuno will be to reshape the squad and adapt his tactics to the players available, given the club’s recent investments in new talent.

The coming months will be crucial for Nottingham Forest as they seek to secure their Premier League status under new leadership. The football world will be watching with interest to see how Nuno Espirito Santo reshapes the team and what changes he implements to achieve success in the top flight once again.

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More about Steve Cooper’s Dismissal

• Nottingham Forest sacks manager Steve Cooper
• Glenn Murray’s comments on Steve Cooper’s sacking
• Nottingham Forest in talks with Nuno Espirito Santo
• Steve Cooper’s achievements at Nottingham Forest
• Fan reactions to Steve Cooper’s departure