Nottingham Forest have asked Burton Albion for permission to speak to Nigel Clough about their managerial vacancy.
Clough, who made more than 300 appearances for Forest in two separate spells, has a long association with the club through his father, Brian. It is understood that Burton have yet to respond to Forest’s request, with Clough said to be considering the approach.
The 50-year-old returned to Burton in December 2015 for his second spell in charge after leaving Sheffield United having also spent four seasons at Derby.
Clough guided Burton to promotion to the Championship, with the Brewers currently in 22nd position in the table – five points behind Forest. Frenchman Philippe Montanier was sacked by the club on 14 January, with a proposed takeover by an American consortium also having collapsed earlier this month.
“It’s an easy link and a logical one from lots of points of view,” Clough told BBC Radio Derby on Wednesday.
“All these sort of allegiances you have and everything, yeah they’re strong, but in football people go to rivals all the time.
“It’s very difficult when you spent 18 years – I’m just over 50 years old – so a third of my life involved with a certain club.”
