“This emblem is bigger than any manager,” Sean Dyche declared at his introduction as the club's manager, sporting a training top with his monogram. He then, amended his statement. Actually, there was one manager who was probably as important as the badge – everyone recognizes who that was.”} Following that, an imitation of the legendary manager, a crack at that distinctive accent. Lad, well done,’” he recalled, reliving his three years as a trainee at the City Ground, the days he spent strolling down the river, with Clough’s labrador, dashing past him and his boss's voice invariably within hearing range.
Dyche tells a anecdote of how, as a youngster, he and a few others tended Clough’s yard at his home in Quarndon. “We were on £28.50 a week and he paid you a tenner to do his garden. So we really thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d prepare food for you and make sure you were well looked after. It was rather fun, not too much yard work.”
In his case, the appointment has been a years in the planning. He resides in the city and has a affection for the team. In recent years, he and his long-term coach Ian Woan, who was part of the Forest squad the last time they were in Europe, in 1995‑96, have occasionally visited the local cafe where club icons such as a former player, another stalwart and Garry Birtles meet every Thursday to discuss old and new tales. He will have to give it a miss this week to prepare for the arrival of Porto, undefeated this season, in the European tournament on this week.
I can't wait to meeting the club legends,” said Dyche, who succeeded the previous coach to become Forest’s third manager of the term. “They will give me a bit of ear-holing if I fail to deliver, so I must secure some matches for them. Those guys are important to me. A great deal of Forest fans recognise the legacy of this club. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a chance to reshape my own history, I suppose, as coach.”
The new boss took the team practice for the initial session on Tuesday, three days after his predecessor watched a three-nil home defeat by Chelsea that placed the side in the top division drop zone. Ryan Yates, who came aged eight, acknowledged these are just the start but Dyche and his staff have alleviated some of the negativity.
His staff includes another club icon in Steve Stone, as well as Billy Mercer and Tony Loughlan, who featured for the team. “I feel like a massive asset of this organization is fostering the connection between the supporters, players and coach and, frankly, the recent period we haven’t had a good feeling around here,” Yates said. Dyche and his staff have brought that sense of vitality and enthusiasm.”
He made clear he does not “know the team like the inside out” considering his latest experience at Forest has been as an rival manager, but he believes he has a broader grasp of the environment and demands. The house rules have been set. “I’ve let them wear light-colored footwear, for goodness sake,” the manager said. I expect my ex-players criticizing me on messaging. But they’re forbidden to wear neck warmers or headgear … I had to do a compromise somewhere.”
The team have lost their last four matches and failed to secure a victory since the start of the season. Dyche said the owner, the Greek businessman, recognised the significance of stabilising the situation. He faced the Greek billionaire in the Europa League with Burnley, when his team were beaten in a qualifier against the Greek side in 2018. Following the initial match he expressed frustration at Olympiakos dignitaries, among them the owner, approaching the referees at the break in the stadium. “We had a bit of a giggle,” he recalled.
Part of his appeal is his reputation for constructing teams with strong foundations, relevant for a side without a clean sheet in many games. People categorize me, I’m not bothered,” he stated. I don't avoid behind what’s successful. It’s no badge of honour to me. Five years ago people were saying: ‘Why do you depend on dead balls?’ Now they’re in vogue. Skinny jeans, flared jeans, skinny jeans, bell-bottoms … my daughter hammers me for any trousers I wear. It seems on social media even I got some criticism for my trainers arriving at practice [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. A brand [trainers] but, anyway, don’t like to bring it up it.”
The manager is pleased that his early career were at Forest but believes that should not mean he or his team are evaluated in a special way. No easy path with the supporters, but we do care, that’s a point I don’t think can ever be doubted,” he remarked. “All I dreamt of was putting on the shirt, but I never got to achieve it. Steve Stone and Ian Woan did, Billy played as a loan keeper, Tony wore it and scored a goal. I was the only one who failed to and they constantly tell me of that.
“For me to have that connection of it is a big thing for me individually. But it doesn’t give me a special privilege, believe me. The supporters expect me to succeed. If I’m not winning, the fans are going to come at me because how fans work and I’ve got no issue with that because that’s the reality. I was at the club as a youth and didn't get to wear the kit, the badge. Now, currently, I’m sitting with it wearing it.”
