Forest weigh sacking Nuno Espirito Santo

Nottingham Forest face a moment of high tension as owner Marinakis and the coach Nuno Espirito Santo reportedly clash over plans and signings.

Forest weigh sacking Nuno Espirito Santo amid Marinakis tension

Nottingham Forest are reportedly weighing up a move to sack Nuno Espirito Santo as tensions with owner Evangelos Marinakis grow. The former Wolves and Tottenham manager had guided Forest to safety in 2023/24 and helped them to a late surge that briefly placed them in European contention, but form deteriorated in the run-in and the club finished seventh in the league. Behind the scenes, the owner is said to be re-evaluating coaching options while the club’s transfer policy has drawn attention for its size and direction this window.

Forest has spent more than £150 million this summer, aiming to build a side capable of competing at higher levels. The window has seen signings such as Douglas Luiz, Omari Hutchinson, Dan Ndoye and James McAtee, signaling a clear ambition to push into Europe and beyond. Nuno has publicly pushed back on the pace and direction of the squad’s build, saying the plans did not come together and that some players may go out on loan as part of restructuring. Luiz has spoken about choosing Forest because of the club’s evident ambition, while Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson framed the window as busy but successful and expressed confidence in the new additions.

The episode highlights a clash between what a club aspires to and how its leadership tries to execute that plan. When a manager’s future becomes tied to the owner’s assessment of signings, stability can become a casualty of ambition. Forest’s heavy spending reflects a broader Premier League trend where clubs chase immediate impact to close gaps with rivals, yet it can also strain team chemistry and decision-making processes. If Marinakis is indeed weighing coaches while backing a costly rebuild, the club risks sending mixed signals to players and supporters about leadership and long-term strategy. The next weeks will test whether the behind-the-scenes push for results translates into sustainable on-pitch progress or just renewed volatility.

Highlights

The coming weeks will reveal whether Forest can align vision with execution.