Current Leeds United head coach Steve Evans is the joint-favourite (Bet Victor) to be in charge of Nottingham Forest for the first game of next season. He joins Burton Albion manager and former player Nigel Clough at the top of the betting.
Interestingly, ex-Bristol City manager and also one-time Forest boss Steve Cotterill was seen speaking to owner Fawaz Al Hasawi at the midweek clash with Reading. However, this is said to be a ‘chance meeting’ and he won’t be returning as manager for a second spell.
Nevertheless, Nottingham Forest Football Club is, always has and always will be an attractive job for many football managers up and down the country, and perhaps abroad to certain as well.
If the betting is anything to go by, then it is a straight fight between Clough and Evans for the vacancy. Of course, it is never as simple as that, and a name could quite easily come out of the blue very quickly.
When Dougie Freedman was manager earlier this season, following a 1-0 win at Elland Road, Steve Evans criticised the tactics of the opposition. On the flip side, he was very complimentary about the club as a while, and with strong rumours of him leaving Elland Road this summer, a switch to the City Ground would almost certainly interest him if he was out of work.
Although Clough is hoping to guide the Brewers into the second-tier of English football for the first time in their history, he is said to be keen on returning to manager the club his Father, Brian, led to two European Cup triumphs.
Paul Williams is currently in charge until the end of the season, but isn’t said to be a likely candidate to take over, especially as recent form is anything but inspiring. Other names high up the betting include another former manager in the form of Billy Davies. With Aston Villa all but certain to be dropping down from the Premier League, that is another Championship job up for grabs. The same sort of names will be linked to both more than likely, especially in the case of Nigel Pearson, whilst Martin O’Neill, who has past connections with both clubs in question is linked as well.
