Forest open Pereira talks after sacking Dyche

Nottingham Forest have begun discussions with former Wolves manager Vitor Pereira as they search for yet another head coach following the dismissal of Sean Dyche. Dyche’s tenure at the City Ground lasted just 114 days, making him the third permanent manager to leave the club this season in what has become a chaotic campaign.

Forest’s decision to part ways with Dyche came after a frustrating 0-0 draw at home against bottom-placed Wolves on Wednesday. The stalemate left Forest only three points above the Premier League relegation zone with 12 matches remaining, intensifying concerns about their top-flight survival.

Sources indicate that Pereira is one of the leading candidates to take over. The 57-year-old Portuguese coach previously worked under Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis at Greek giants Olympiacos. His familiarity with Marinakis and experience managing in high-pressure situations make him an appealing option.

Pereira guided Wolves to Premier League safety last season after joining midway through the campaign. However, his time at Molineux ended in November when Wolves found themselves struggling, having collected just two points from their first 10 league games.

Forest’s managerial instability has been a defining feature of their season. Dyche’s exit means the club is now searching for its fourth permanent manager in less than a year. Ange Postecoglou was dismissed in October after just 39 days in charge, having replaced Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked a mere three games into the 2025-26 season.

In a brief club statement confirming Dyche’s departure, Forest thanked him and his coaching staff for their efforts and wished them well for the future. The club declined to offer further comment.

Dyche inherited a team already in difficulty. When he took charge, Forest were 18th in the table after managing just one win in eight games under Postecoglou. His first match ended in a 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, but he quickly steadied the ship. Forest went on to record four wins and one draw in their next seven matches, climbing out of the relegation zone.

However, inconsistency soon returned. A run of four straight defeats dented momentum before Dyche’s side responded with a four-game unbeaten stretch. Highlights included a 2-1 victory at West Ham and a hard-fought draw against league leaders Arsenal. Despite those positive results, improved performances from relegation rivals Leeds and West Ham kept Forest under pressure.

European competition has provided some relief. Forest finished 13th in the Europa League group stage, collecting four wins, two draws, and two defeats to advance to the knockout rounds. They are scheduled to face Turkish club Fenerbahce in a two-legged tie later this month, with the first leg set for 19 February.

Domestically, though, their cup campaigns have disappointed. Under Postecoglou, Forest were eliminated from the EFL Cup by Swansea in the third round. More recently, they suffered an FA Cup exit on penalties to Championship side Wrexham during Dyche’s tenure.

Forest’s decline has been particularly striking given their strong finish last season. They were in contention for Champions League qualification for much of the campaign but collected only eight points from their final eight matches. Ultimately, they finished seventh and secured Conference League qualification.

However, administrative issues involving multi-club ownership rules led to Forest being moved into the Europa League at Crystal Palace’s expense for the 2025-26 season. During last season’s downturn, tensions grew between Nuno Espirito Santo and owner Marinakis, culminating in Nuno’s dismissal in September.

Dyche, who once played for Forest’s youth team during Brian Clough’s managerial era, was viewed as a safe and stabilizing appointment. Although he never made a senior appearance for the club, his connection to Forest added emotional weight to his return.

Before joining Forest, Dyche had been sacked by Everton in January 2025 after nearly two years in charge. He previously enjoyed a successful decade at Burnley, guiding them to two Premier League promotions and even securing European qualification — a remarkable achievement for the Clarets. He also had a short spell at Watford earlier in his career.

After Wednesday’s draw against Wolves, Dyche appeared aware that his position was under threat. Forest registered 35 shots during the match without scoring — the highest number of attempts by any team he had managed across 351 games. Owner Marinakis was visibly frustrated throughout the game.

Speaking post-match, Dyche acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his role. He stated that if the owner chose to make a change, it was his prerogative, recognizing that modern football often demands swift decisions.

Despite the dismissal, many pundits supported Dyche. Former England striker Alan Shearer argued that Dyche’s experience and Premier League knowledge made him the right man for a relegation battle. Ex-Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy echoed that sentiment, describing Dyche as calm and capable under pressure.

Statistically, Dyche’s impact was not entirely negative. If the league table were calculated from the date he took over, Forest would sit comfortably in mid-table, six points clear of the relegation zone. He even received a nomination for Premier League Manager of the Month recently.

Yet just two wins in their last 10 league matches, combined with the FA Cup exit, eroded confidence among both supporters and the board.

The current season has descended into turmoil. European football returned to the City Ground for the first time since 1995-96, and expectations were high following a £180 million summer investment. Instead of challenging for continental success, Forest now find themselves embroiled in a survival battle.

The rapid managerial turnover has contributed to instability. Tactical shifts from Nuno’s counter-attacking style to Postecoglou’s high-press system, and then back to Dyche’s more pragmatic approach, have left the squad struggling for identity.

With relegation a genuine threat and another managerial change looming, Forest’s campaign risks being remembered as a missed opportunity and a cautionary tale.

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