Nottingham Forest hold a ‘degree of sympathy’ for manager Steve Cooper after a tough start to the season, amid reports his job could be at risk at the City Ground, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.
Leicester City put their East Midlands rivals to the sword on Monday night, sending Forest to the foot of the Premier League table with a 4-0 triumph.
What is the latest on Cooper?
Cooper led Forest back into the English top flight for the first time in 23 years when he masterminded a Championship play-off victory last season.
But, with eight matches played this term, he has racked up just four points, losing six matches and scoring only six goals in the process.
In the wake of the latest defeat, it is understood that Forest are considering a move for former Everton and Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez, with Sean Dyche also a contender.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis has also reportedly withdrawn a contract offer that had been on the table for Cooper, according to MailOnline, as he ponders his next move.
A report from The Telegraph has detailed that it is not just the manager who is at risk at the City Ground, however, with the club’s recruitment team and chief executive Dane Murphy also under scrutiny.
What has Sheth said on the situation?
Sheth understands that, despite these reports, there does remain a slither of sympathy for Cooper at the club.
The Sky Sports reporter adds that the former Swansea boss’s task was made all the tougher by having to integrate a raft of new signings.
Sheth told GIVEMESPORT: “I think there is a degree of sympathy for him. Yes, he was involved in all of those signings but they are now eight games into a new Premier League season, in a league they haven't been promoted to for 23 years and, once promoted, another set of ambitions kick in, asking ‘Is Steve Cooper, the guy to take us forward?’
“Well, Steve Cooper was the guy to bring them into the Premier League and they've now signed over 20 players. In such a short space of time, can he realistically be expected to turn Nottingham Forest into a winning team in the Premier League with so many changes in that playing squad?”
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Should Cooper be sacked?
It has been a poor start to the season for Forest but Cooper has earned more time to turn things around in the East Midlands.
The club were languishing at the foot of the second tier before his arrival. His promotion-winning squad then fell apart at the end of the season, leaving him needing to rebuild and integrate 23 new signings in the toughest league in the world.
It is a task that any manager would struggle with. While a change of boss may bring about an immediate upturn in results, it may not be the best action in the long run.