A number of clubs are said to be keeping a close eye on Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper’s situation.
Today marks a year in charge at the City Ground for the Welshman, who replaced Chris Hughton at the helm last September. He has overseen a remarkable transformation in that time, taking the Reds from bottom of the Championship to the Premier League, ending their 23-year exile from the top-flight.
Cooper agreed a two-year deal when he was appointed, leaving him with 12 months left to run on his current contract. Following last season’s promotion success, owner Evangelos Marinakis stated his desire to tie the 42-year-old to fresh terms, and talks are understood to have taken place in the summer.
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Niakhate update
Nottingham Forest defender Moussa Niakhate is said to have trained away from the main group after linking up with his national team.
And doubt has been cast over whether the summer signing will be involved for Senegal in their upcoming games. If he does, it will be his first run-out since the Reds’ 1-0 win over West Ham United last month.
Niakhate has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since then. The current international break saw him called up to the Senegal squad for the first time, but it remains to be seen whether he gets out on the pitch.
Local media wiwSport report he - along with two teammates - “trained away from the group, especially indoors” as the Lions continued their preparations on Tuesday. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) explained the group was split into two “with a first group remaining to work at the hotel and a second group leaving for the Stade de la Source in Orleans”.
Appointment rumour
Reports of Nottingham Forest being "very close" to appointing Pep Segura as sporting director are understood to be wide of the mark.
The 61-year-old has been linked with both the Reds and fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned outfit Olympiacos. According to Spanish media outlet Relevo, he was the “main candidate” to be sports director at the Greek side, with a role at the City Ground “another possibility”.
An update then suggested he is “very close” to being appointed Forest sporting director. However, it is understood that is wide of the mark.
Greek media had earlier dismissed the suggestion Segura could return to Olympiacos, having previously had a spell as assistant and as manager. OnSports reported there was an “immediate” clarification from the club, pointing out, “no issue has been raised with the return of the Spaniard to the team, let alone the role of sports director”.
Cooper's pledge
Much has changed since Steve Cooper was appointed Nottingham Forest head coach exactly one year ago.
But the Welshman’s focus, drive and work ethic remains exactly the same. If anything, the latter has increased.
The Reds were rock-bottom of the Championship when Cooper arrived 12 months ago. What followed was a quite remarkable turnaround and an utterly incredible season; one which will live long in the memory as a 23-year exile from the Premier League was brought to an end.
Promotion means the Forest boss now has a very different challenge to contend with. He will be spending the international break plotting how to stop a miserable run of four straight defeats. But then there was never likely to be any resting on laurels after last term’s success.
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