Nottingham Forest have reportedly withdrawn the offer of a new contract for head coach Steve Cooper amid chaos at the club.
Cooper oversaw one of the most unexpected promotions in Championship history, leading Forest from the bottom of the standings in September to Championship playoff champions in May of 2021-22.
With almost 20 new players arriving at the City Ground during a busy summer transfer window, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Cooper would stay with the East Midlands club in the long term.
However, five consecutive Premier League defeats, the most recent at Leicester City by a 4-0 scoreline, have fueled rumours over the Welshman’s future.
Cooper had the option of signing a contract extension since preseason but chose not to do so, leaving him at Forest only until the end of the current season.
According to the Daily Mail, that is no longer the case, with owner Evangelos Marinakis seriously considering a number of changes behind the scenes.
The most notable is Cooper, who, despite Forest’s recent results, is still held in high respect by many at the club.
However, the report alleges that other Forest employees, including CEO Dane Murphy and Head of Scouting Andy Scott, may leave in the near future.
See Also: Milan Is An Exciting Challenge For Us, Chelsea Boss Potter Says
As of now, it is uncertain whether Cooper will be available for Monday’s Premier League match against Aston Villa, a key encounter with Forest four points behind the 14th-placed side.
Regardless of the outcome of that game, it is said that the 42-year-old is more likely to depart Forest than stay in the bench.
Rafael Benitez, most recently of Everton, has been linked with a transfer to Forest as Cooper’s replacement, with the Spaniard reportedly eager to take on his next challenge.
COMMENTS