Steve Cooper 'to be given one last chance to save his job at Nottingham Forest'

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 07 December 2023

Cooper 'to be given one last chance to save his job at Forest'

Steve Cooper is reportedly one more poor result away from losing his job after Nottingham Forest's 5-0 defeat at Fulham on Wednesday.

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has reportedly been given at least one more match to save his job, after a 5-0 thrashing against Fulham on Wednesday.

The club are just six points above the relegation zone after a run of one win in 11 Premier League games, with the pressure ramped up after Forest's defeat to Everton last weekend.

Things got much worse in midweek though, as Forest suffered their heaviest defeat of 2023 at the hands of Marco Silva's side.

Cooper claimed neither he nor the players deserved the appreciative reception that they got from the Forest away end after the defeat at Craven Cottage, where the supporters continued to chant the manager's name.

The Forest boss was "embarrassed" by the display from the side in their 5-0 drubbing, but he is "grateful" to still have the support of the fanbase.

In his post-match press conference, Cooper also stated that whatever happens, his wish is only what is best for the club.

Cooper revealed: "Whatever is right for the football club is right for me, whatever that is."

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper reacts after the match on October 1, 2023 © Reuters

However, despite many believing that that would have been the final straw, considering owner Evangelos Marinakis was in attendance last night, talkSPORT claims that Cooper will be given at least one more chance to redeem himself to stay in the job.

Cooper's job was thought to be on the line on more than one occasion last season, but he survived the pressure and led the club to Premier League safety in their first season back in the top flight in over two decades.

The manager was back in front of the media on Thursday afternoon ahead of Forest's clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, and he once again deflected away any fears that he may lose his job.

"I don't think like that, it's not a thought process I believe in," Cooper said in response to questions about whether he is fighting to save his job.

"If I let anything else creep into my thoughts, that means I'm not giving 100% to my job, and that's exactly what I want to do."

Cooper also called on his players to step up for the fixture against Wolves, after publicly criticising their performance in the aftermath of the Fulham defeat.

"We want to see people stand up and be counted. I know I will. I'll do my very best to make sure the players understand that, and they do as well."

A report from the Daily Mail suggesting Cooper's job is on the brink have claimed Julen Lopetegui is in line to potentially take over if results do not turn in Forest's favour.

Marinakis has stated that his ambition for the club is to finish in the top half this season, and they have spent substantial amounts of money to try to make that happen, but they remain a long way off that target at present.