Nottingham Forest ready to open talks with Steve Cooper after Chris Hughton is sacked

Nottingham Forest are expected to open talks with Steve Cooper after the dismissal of Chris Hughton, with the Championship club now in search of their 13th manager in 10 years.

Cooper, the former England Under-17s and Swansea City manager, will be approached by Forest and offered a swift return to the technical area, with new chief executive Dane Murphy leading the appointment process.

Hughton was sacked on Thursday after six defeats in seven Championship matches, with the club taking action to bring his 11-month tenure to an end.

Appointed last October with two promotions already on his CV, Hughton’s poor run from the end of last season carried into this campaign and left the Forest hierarchy with no alternative. After 53 matches in charge, he managed just 14 victories.

Hughton’s squad has undergone extensive surgery over the summer, with 10 new signings arriving before the transfer deadline, but the home defeat by Middlesbrough leaves Forest bottom of the table with only one point.

Cooper, 41, is high on Forest’s list of targets to replace Hughton and the club is poised to instigate negotiations with the Welshman later on Thursday.

Forest are keen to recruit a younger, more attack-minded coach and Cooper fits their profile as he has also established a reputation for developing young players.

The Forest academy was recently awarded Category One status and Cooper’s background with Liverpool’s academy and the England Under-17s –  who lifted the World Cup in 2017 – appeals to the club as they seek a clear pathway between the junior levels and first-team.

Cooper left Swansea City before the start of this season despite guiding them to the Championship play-offs in two successive campaigns.

If talks progress smoothly, Forest hope to appoint Cooper before this weekend’s match at Huddersfield Town.

Forest’s ownership has come under recent scrutiny, yet it is understood Murphy is now calling the shots and in daily contact with Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Murphy, the former Barnsley CEO, is also being supported by Ioannis Vrentzos, who has returned to Olympiacos but remains on the Forest board with a less prominent role.

Recruitment over the summer was also criticised, though the remit of lowering the average age, slashing the wage bill and squad size was fulfilled.

Murphy is leading a new data-driven recruitment model, with a number of key appointments made since the end of last season.

There is no doubt, however, that this famous old club – who have not operated in the Premier League since 1999 – are gripped in another crisis.

They face Huddersfield this weekend propping up the table and in dire need of sparking their season into life. With only one point so far, their situation is so dismal that if Derby County were to suffer their anticipated nine-point deduction one victory would lift them above their rivals.

Forest sack Hughton after six defeats in opening seven games

Nottingham Forest have announced manager Chris Hughton has been "relieved of his duties" after the club's poor start to the season.

Forest sit bottom of the Sky Bet Championship and Wednesday night's home defeat to Middlesbrough left them without a win from any of their first seven matches.

Hughton was appointed by the club in October last year and Forest finished 17th in the Championship last season.

Nottingham Forest statement