Nottingham Forest full-back Harry Toffolo has said the club were right to stick by Steve Cooper when there were questions asked over the manager’s future earlier in the season.
The Reds’ boss was under pressure at the City Ground after a disappointing start to the campaign which left them bottom of the Premier League table. But instead of dismissing Cooper, Forest handed the manager a new contract.
That brought an upturn in form and results which saw Forest move away from the relegation zone. The Reds have since been dragged back into the fight for survival due to recent results.
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It has led to further speculation over the future of Cooper, with the manager said to be under pressure. But, Toffolo, who has found regular game time hard to come by since moving from Huddersfield to Forest in the summer, has sung the praises of the Reds’ boss.
“The respect I have — let alone the city and club — for Steve is incredible. He’s a man’s man and a loyal person who I’ve so much time for,” Toffolo told the Sun. “I know we live in a results-led business but sometimes you look at the person and think that’s someone you want to work for.
“He ticks all the boxes, as do all the coaching staff. Alan Tate, Jamie Robinson, Andy Reid, goalkeeping coach Danny Alcock the goalkeeping coach. They’re all fantastic people.
“You look forward to seeing them every day.”
Forest are just one of three teams in the relegation fight that have not made a managerial change this season - alongside Leicester City and West Ham.
“We’ve seen new managers have come into teams around us and how many points some of them have picked up, Toffolo added. “But you must also look at how many points we picked up when the gaffer got his new contract. It was phenomenal.
“Loyalty isn’t often spoken about but this club has shown that to Steve and rightly so. He’s the spearhead of everything we do around here. He has a lot of respect on and off the pitch.
“On a personal level, he’s been good. As a person, you enjoy speaking to him. That’s an important step.
“If you enjoy speaking to someone, you’ve then got their attention and they’ve got yours. You find everything is more productive.”
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