Steve Cooper to remain as Nottingham Forest manager

Steve Cooper is to stay as Nottingham Forest’s head coach, with Filippo Giraldi to join as the new sporting director, following boardroom talks on Wednesday.

Cooper will be given more time to spark Forest’s season into life and is poised to take charge of the Premier League game against Aston Villa on Monday night.

Evangelos Marinakis, the club’s owner, held detailed talks with other high-level board members this afternoon and it was concluded that Cooper will remain in his post for now.

Forest were seriously considering Cooper’s future after the 4-0 defeat at Leicester on Monday night, which was the fifth in a row and left them bottom of the table.

Rafael Benítez, the former Liverpool and Newcastle manager, had emerged as a potential replacement for Cooper, who has been in charge for just over 12 months.

Yet it was unanimously decided that Cooper will earn a stay of execution, with Marinakis insisting that Cooper deserves patience to be shown.

Cooper delivered Forest back to the Premier League after a 23-year absence in May and, crucially, has retained backing from the majority of the supporters.

Chief executive and recruitment team at risk

Forest are still prepared to undertake drastic action behind the scenes, with chief executive Dane Murphy and the recruitment team in the firing line.

In another development, Watford’s former technical director Filippo Giraldi is in negotiations over taking a similar role at Forest.

Giraldi was a key figure at Watford under owner Gino Pozzo but departed the club shortly after their relegation in the 2019/20 campaign.

He has vast experience of the Premier League and will be appointed by Forest as Marinakis looks to improve the infrastructure and evaluate the sporting side of the business.

Giraldi was also responsible for shrewd signings at Watford including Richarlison, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Joao Pedro and Étienne Capoue.

Murphy, the former Barnsley chief executive, is expected to leave this month with his position believed to have been under threat for some time.

It is understood there is frustration at the City Ground over suggestions that Murphy was pivotal in last year’s appointment of Cooper, who inherited a team bottom of the Championship and then steered them to promotion.

Lee Charnley, the former Newcastle managing director, is in line to replace Murphy.

George Syrianos, the head of recruitment, and head of scouting Andy Scott are also facing uncertain futures following Forest’s £150 million spend, where 22 new players arrived.