Nuno Espirito Santo has stressed that he intends to remain at Nottingham Forest, even as questions about his future swirl around the club. The 51-year-old acknowledged on Friday that rumors about his job had circulated, saying that where there’s smoke there’s fire, but ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game with Crystal Palace he insisted he does not want to leave and that his focus remains on the match.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Nuno dismissed suggestions that he was trying to engineer a move, calling such talk nonsense and insisting the team’s immediate priorities are the game at hand. He also confirmed plans to hold talks with owner Evangelos Marinakis and Edu, Forest’s global head of football, about transfers, saying, “That’s what we need to do and we’re going to do it.”
While Forest did secure European qualification last season and opened this campaign with a win over Brentford, there are whispers from people close to the club that Nuno’s position is not entirely secure. The uncertainty has been said to extend to the squad, which is aware of the behind‑the‑scenes tensions.
Analysts weighing in on the situation have suggested that a confrontation with the club’s ownership structure could be politically damaging for a manager, even one with strong support from the fanbase. One expert, Julien Laurens, told BBC Radio 5 Live that this is a battle Nuno is unlikely to win, noting that when a new sporting director arrives they tend to bring their own people and may not back a manager who challenges the hierarchy.
Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha added that Nuno’s standing with supporters remains high, but the fractured relationship with Marinakis and Edu could complicate his tenure. He warned that the ongoing strain might push Nuno toward resigning before a sacking becomes necessary, though he also stressed that the club would not want to lose the manager if stability can be preserved.
If Forest keep winning, the case for keeping Nuno becomes stronger; however, the owner’s position and Edu’s influence mean the final decision could hinge on how transfer plans are executed and how well the relationship with leadership is mended.
Additional context and value:
– The clash with Crystal Palace comes at a pivotal moment as all parties navigate the balance between performance on the field and management stability off it.
– A productive, transparent dialogue about transfers could help align the squad’s needs with the club’s long-term strategy and potentially ease tensions.
– For Forest fans, the key takeaway is that Nuno remains committed to the project, and his willingness to engage with Marinakis and Edu suggests an openness to improvements behind the scenes that could benefit the team’s progress this season.
Summary: Nuno Espirito Santo has reiterated his desire to stay at Nottingham Forest amid behind-the-scenes friction with ownership and the club’s football operations. While there is no immediate indication of a decision, discussions over transfers and the evolving relationship with Marinakis and Edu will likely influence Forest’s direction in the coming weeks. A positive path forward would involve clearer communication, collaborative transfer planning, and renewed unity between manager, owners, and football leadership. If those elements align, the club could build on last season’s European finish and maintain momentum.