Nottingham Forest are set to appoint club legend Martin O’Neill as new manager, after a pitch where the Irishman put forward a persuasive plan to take them back to the Premier League for the first time since 1999.
A two-time winner of the European Cup with the club under Brian Clough over 1979 and 1980, O’Neill a few months ago departed the Republic of Ireland job under some criticism, but Forest have for a long time wanted their former midfielder to return as manager and see a CV filled with club success as far more relevant than his most recent job.
Forest are hopeful that O’Neill can do for them what he did for Leicester City in the late 90s, and it was this plan - and the energy he showed for the job - that were seen as crucial in negotiations. It is why he is now expected to beat Slavisa Jokanovic to the job.
Club owner Evangelos Marinakis is meanwhile willing to heavily back O’Neill in the transfer market to try and get promotion this season, and discussed the issue with the 66-year-old over the last two days.
Forest currently lie eighth in the Championship and four points off the play-off places, with Aitor Karanka having last week departed after falling out with key figures in the club hierarchy.
City Ground officials had wanted O’Neill when they appointed Karanka last January.
