Nottingham Forest’s end to last season showed glimpses of what could have been this term under Martin O’Neill.
I know not everybody will agree with me when I say this, I do genuinely believe with the right players being signed this summer we could have been looking at a promotion campaign under him.
For me, sacking him and bringing in Sabri Lamouchi weakens them, by far it weakens them – their odds with the bookmakers reflect that, too.
There’s no doubt that sacking a manager at this stage of pre-season will only disrupt things.
Martin O’Neill would have had his own targets for the transfer window, having already signed Sammy Ameobi and Aro Muric on the verge of arriving. You’d expect things to have picked up further momentum in the coming weeks.
Now, that change in the management office could slow things down a bit which could mean a slow start to the season, especially given the fact Lamouchi doesn’t know the Championship, and I bear no disrespect when I say that.
There’s still much work to do when it comes to making the squad better than it currently is, one that can sustain a charge to promotion.
We know the squad does have some quality running throughout it, but not enough to challenge for promotion on a consistent basis as they proved last season.
I still believe Martin could have got the club promoted in May, had he have been given the chance to do just that and assemble players with that capablity.
He was given an 18-month contract which only started in January, and he did inherit some problems when he took over.
It took him a while to get to grips with being back in club management and adapt to life in the Championship, but I think that given time and a full summer transfer window to stamp his authority on the squad, he could have got Forest up.
I just hope the club's decision to change won't hamper their hopes for a place in the top flight, though I do have my doubts.
This week, Reds legend and columnist Kenny Burns was speaking to Barry Cooper.
