McLeish in at Reds as Clough calls Championship managerial departures 'very harsh'
ALEX McLeish is the latest man in the hot seat at Nottingham Forest today.
Derby County's East Midlands rivals named the former Rangers, Scotland, Birmingham City and Aston Villa manager as the man they believe can lead them to the Premier League in a statement last night.
Meanwhile, Rams boss Nigel Clough described the sackings of former Forest boss Sean O'Driscoll and Henning Berg at Blackburn Rovers as "very harsh."
O'Driscoll was relieved of his duties by Forest's Kuwaiti owners hours after a 4-2 victory over Leeds United on Boxing Day.
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The former Doncaster Rovers chief had taken Forest to within a point of the play-off places after being appointed in the summer.
Berg lost his job at Blackburn after only 57 days in charge, having been unable to revive the club's fortunes following the departure of predecessor Steve Kean.
"We shouldn't be surprised by the news but we still are," said Clough, who is the second longest-serving manager in the Championship.
"One had been in the job for less than 60 days and the other had been there about five months and taken the team to a point outside the play-offs.
"So both decisions seem very harsh.
"I feel very sorry for Sean. He was brought in to do a job, which he was doing.
"He had put together a good squad and they are not far off the play-offs.
"Forest have spent a lot of money but every manager needs time and it's only halfway through the season.
"I'm sure he will get another job soon enough."
Berg, who signed a three-year contract on October 31, oversaw his 10th match of the season on Boxing Day – a 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.
The team won only one game with him in charge.
Berg's time at Ewood Park was hardly happy, with a statement earlier this month playing down claims that he had stormed out of the club's Christmas party.
Comments
by JohnZFish
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 10:40AM
“Regarding this debate -I can only concur with the comment that at Forest McLeish "Has the tools to do the job".”
by steviemitch
Saturday, December 29 2012, 11:59AM
“Well, there's a sobering decision. Mcleish as manager? An astonishing decision, especially given where O'Driscoll had got them in the league and something that neither Forest fans nor players were asking for. And an equally astonishing choice - there is little - if anything - in Mcleish's record or his brand of football that makes this a wise decision. Astonishing. "Clough/GSE Out!" brigade beware....just watch the Forest scenario unravel and reflect.”
by knawrybred
Saturday, December 29 2012, 1:16AM
“Andrew20102, "McLeish has not been told to get Forest up this season or he'll be expecting to be out again by the summer. The Kuwaiti owners have not stated this. You state Forest could end up being promoted via the play-offs (possible with a little investment in jan) we could (not when you have sell your best players just to balance the books) You state But if either of us do, it would be disastrous as neither of us are ready (wigan, norwich, QPR, WBA, was they ready? they are still there) You state McLeish will be tempted so spend millions in the transfer window and have little chance to even end up with a happy dressing room. (He has already stated that he is aware that bringing big earners will unsettle the team , so this will not happen.) I did not want McLiesh but I also feel the squad we have had since the start of the season should be in the top three now, SOD was a gentleman but made some selection errors this has not helped his cause, also on this site suddenly SOD has become a good well respected manager now he has gone! McLiesh has inherited a very strong squad, has money to spend, we'll placed in the table, the owners backing and a great fan base, he has the tools to do the job only he can fail. Our owners have spent £80million+ so they expect success sooner or later let's hope it's sooner else yes He could be an casualty but I think he will have at least this season to prove his worth.”
by andrew20102
Friday, December 28 2012, 11:28PM
“McLeish must get Forest up this season or he'll be expecting to be out again by the summer. That is what the Kuwaiti owners have made clear. Looking at the history of the statistics, at least two of the top 3 at Xmas generally go up at the end of the season. Which suggests any two from Cardiff, Hull and Crystal Palace will be in the Premier League next season. So Forest could end up being promoted via the play-offs as we could. But if either of us do, it would be disastrous as neither of us are ready. Billy Davies taught us a wicked lesson when he was manager. Rams were in the top 2 in our promotion season when he spent £10 million in the January transfer window and we only went up in the play-offs; spent another £10 million and came back down in a right mess. Kicked out with the worst team ever in top league history. Forest aren't even in that position, ie top 3 at present. So McLeish will be sorely tempted so spend millions in the transfer window and have little chance to even end up with a happy dressing room. Seen it all before. Watch it unravel.”
by sjn50
Friday, December 28 2012, 10:31PM
“he,s gary megson in disguise.”
by PeteDerby1
Friday, December 28 2012, 10:27PM
“GSE's non-investment or Forest's owners' spending combined with utter stupidity: which would you rather have?”
by wilko10
Friday, December 28 2012, 7:21PM
“Portsmouth come's to mind !!”
by delview
Friday, December 28 2012, 4:10PM
“you can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be lead,
thats funny JohnzFish really funny”
by JohnZFish
Friday, December 28 2012, 2:02PM
“You cant flog a dead horse, but if you did Nigel would probably buy it & play it at centre forward.”
by delview
Friday, December 28 2012, 1:20PM
“Remember no one ever kicks a dead dog”