Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper is keen to quickly develop a strong relationship with new chief football officer Ross Wilson.
Wilson took up post earlier this week as the Reds moved swiftly to replace axed sporting director Filippo Giraldi. The 39-year-old made the move from Rangers and has previously held roles at Southampton, Huddersfield Town, Watford and Falkirk.
Cooper had a good partnership with Giraldi, who was only appointed in October. He wants to ensure he has the same with Wilson and insists the off-field changes have not disrupted preparations for Sunday’s clash with Manchester United.
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“It hasn’t interfered with my day to day work,” said the Forest boss. “Nothing does, because I have to give that 100 percent.
“The club have made a change, with Filippo going and bringing Ross in. I am a believer that the sporting director or chief football officer or technical director role is something the club needs. I think it will help the club's progress, both on and off the pitch, so I’m an advocate of that.
“I had a good relationship with Filippo, and I will work very hard to have a good relationship with Ross. We are working together on that.
“The exact rationale around the change, I’m not entirely sure, because I have been focusing on the players. But I think the role is an important one for the club, from a multi-disciplinary point of view in helping the club grow and progress to the club we want it to be.
“He started yesterday, he was straight in. He’s doing his introductions at the moment and is getting his bearings, trying to put names to staff and get to know his surroundings - it’s a big operation in every department now, a football club. He’s had the normal sort of first days. Obviously he’s got a lot to look at, which will take fruition over the course of time.
“I do know him already. We have met and spoken quite a few times, so it wasn’t a completely brand new introduction for us both. Myself and the team is of big interest to him, but there’s lots of other things as well.
“We’d met in normal football circles, sometimes on courses at the FA and in and around the game, at matches and training grounds.”
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