Nuno Espirito Santo is set to leave Nottingham Forest after just three games this season.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis only days ago dismissed reports of a rift between him and his manager with the pair expected to hold talks.
The 51-year-old’s departure comes just months after Nuno has steered Forest to a return to European football for the first time in 30 years and on the back of a 3-0 loss against West Ham in Forest’s final game before the international break.
Despite bringing huge success on the pitch for the club, Marinakis and Espirito Santo certainly haven’t always seen eye-to-eye.
Such was plainly obvious as early as last season when the Forest owner stormed onto the City Ground pitch to berate his coach following a 2-2 draw with Leicester City.
And they are evidently yet to put their differences aside, with Espirito Santo making the incredibly honest revelation in a press conference days ago that their relationship was ‘not so good’. Now, it seems the partnership is over.
Nuno Espirito Santo has been sacked by Nottingham Forest after two years in charge
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis only days ago dismissed reports of a rift between himself and his manager
The comment sparked speculation that Marinakis could sack the former Wolves boss amid links to Ange Postecoglou, or even that Espirito Santo could resign – something he strongly denied.
But he has now been sacked, having taken charge of Forest in December 2023. Postecoglou is among the favourites to replace him.
Marinakis broke his silence about the drama surrounding the club in recent days., claiming he and his manager maintain a ‘strong relationship’.
Speaking to TNT Sports from the Europa League draw in Monaco, the 57-year-old said: ‘Yes [Nuno can lead Forest forward], he has been successful and we have done things we have enjoyed. Now we can afford to do things that we enjoy.
‘Everything is solid. We all want Nottingham to succeed. We are here in the good days but we are even closer in the difficult days, so personally I don’t see a problem.
‘We are all together, united, and we’ll make some corrective actions and everything will be smooth and ready to go.
‘We have a solid relationship. Of course, sometimes we can be nervous, say one thing, say another, but what counts at the end of the day is the real relationship between me and Nuno, between Nuno and the players and between the players and ourselves.’
The former Porto boss however dismissed reports claiming he was considering resigning as ‘nonsense’ after his side’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday.
‘It is absurd, never,’ he told reporters.
Tensions seemed to start to grow when Marinakis confronted Nuno on the pitch last season
When asked whether he’ll be in charge beyond the international break, Nuno replied: ‘Yes, I think so. I don’t know how to answer that but I think so.
‘I’m totally relaxed in that sense. We need to have a talk about the future of the club and what is the commitment to the club. We want the same thing, we want the best for Forest, that’s for sure.
‘We have to talk. These kinds of things should be done in the right moment, and the right moment is after the game. Now we are focused on West Ham, then we have the international break and I think that is the right moment.’
