EXCLUSIVE: Steve Cooper is under pressure for quick results at Nottingham Forest after 3-2 home defeat to Brighton with ambitious owner Evangelos Marinakis growing increasingly frustrated
Steve Cooper needs a win as manager of Nottingham Forest as the club’s ambitious owner Evangelos Marinakis becomes increasingly frustrated.
After losing at home to Brighton on Saturday – a defeat that leaves Forest just outside the bottom six – sources suggest Cooper’s future is once again in question.
The Forest board are yet to decide on an alternative manager and it is not believed they have reached a solution, suggesting Cooper may still have time to turn the tide.
He is popular with supporters and retains the support of a large majority despite consecutive 3-2 defeats in the Premier League.
Forest next take on Everton at home and while Cooper is expected to take his place in the dugout, he will need a win to keep the Wolf away under heavy pressure.
Steve Cooper is under pressure for results at Nottingham Forest after they suffered another defeat
Owner Evangelos Marinakis is ambitious to climb the table rather than undergo another breakout act
Former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui is known to have admirers at the City Ground, but there are concerns he will not have the support of the club’s supporters if they were to go that route.
The lack of an obvious replacement who would be seen as an upgrade could also be to Cooper’s advantage.
It was Cooper, 43, who led Forest to the Premier League and they finished 16th in their first season back from relegation.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is worth around £3 billion, has ambitions to move up from another potential breakout move. He wants progress and Cooper must make it happen quickly.
They next play Everton, Fulham and Wolves and Cooper will hope he can deliver the results to keep Marinakis off his back.
Forest lost 3-2 for the second game in a row, with Brighton coming out last as winners