Former Nottingham Forest striker Darren Huckerby has described Chris Hughton as a "top fella" following his exit from the City Ground.
The ex-Reds forward made just nine appearances for Forest while on loan from Manchester City in 2003, but has kept an eye on events on the banks of the Trent from afar.
Six defeats from seven Championship matches proved to be a backward step too far for Hughton and the Reds are now searching for a new manager to replace the former Brighton & Newcastle United boss.
Huckerby took to Twitter to send Hughton a message, as well as direct a firm statement towards the Reds hierarchy.
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He tweeted: "Sad to see Hughton get sacked, genuinely a top fella but the results speak for themselves, it can't just be the manager all the time tough, board, recruitment and players need a long hard look at themselves also! #nffc #NoEasyFix"
Fellow ex-Reds man David Phillips also sent a message to the Forest top dogs.
The retired Welsh international and member of Forest's 1993/94 promotion-winning squad, tweeted: "Disappointed for Chris as he's a great guy but results have dictated his fate. So another manager, 10th in 5 years awaiting, far too many."
Former Swansea City boss Steve Cooper is understood by NottinghamshireLive as leading the race to become Hughton's successor.
The ex-Swans boss has been without a job since leaving the South Wales outfit earlier in the summer, but Forest will have to pay a compensation fee if they want to bring him to the City Ground.
