Why Sean Dyche was 'never in doubt' about taking Nottingham Forest job as search for stability begins
Published 22/10/2025 at 19:59 GMT+1
Sean Dyche will take charge of his first Nottingham Forest game and begin their quest for stability as the club hosts Porto in the UEFA Europa League, in a game that will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Dyche spoke to TNT Sports ahead of Thursday's game, and admitted he had no doubts about taking the job even despite the tumultuous situation that Forest find themselves in.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Sean Dyche admitted he was "never in doubt" about taking the job of Nottingham Forest manager as he hopes to bring stability back to the club.
Forest officially announced Dyche as manager on Tuesday, just three days after the club sacked Ange Postecoglou, who was in charge for just 39 days.
Despite a turbulent end to last season and an even more tumultuous beginning to the current campaign, Dyche had no qualms in taking the role. With proven Premier League experience and a distinct style of play, he could stop the rot at Forest.
Ahead of his first match in charge of Forest against Porto in the UEFA Europa League - which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - Dyche revealed his initial conversations with the contentious owner.
"It was never in doubt about trying to take it, it was just getting things right and the understanding of it.Â
"I think the owner, although he demands and he wants more and wants to move forward. I think there is a reality as well.Â
"I don't think he thinks it's a given, but he certainly thinks at this stage of the season that they'd be in a better position than what they are."
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Dyche started his career at Forest as a youth player, and whilst he never made a first-team appearance, said he has an "understanding" of what football means to the city and said the club had always been good to him.
"It's a nice way of looking at it," Dyche said. "All those little moments touching the club down the years, and I've ended up being manager. It means a lot to me and it means a lot to my staff as well."
Forest exceeded expectations last season by finishing in seventh place, even if they did slip from competing for a Champions League spot in the closing weeks of the campaign.
But the relationship between Nuno Espirito Santo and Marinakis fell apart, leading to Nuno's sacking last month.
With Postecoglou's doomed stint yielding six losses, two draws and no wins, Forest have quickly found themselves in turmoil and are currently far away from being the side they were last season.
"It's a difficult one," Dyche said. "I think the challenge you have in football is because of the enormity of last season, how powerful it was for this football club, certain fans start dreaming of the next chapter as [if] it's a given, it's not.
"I think maybe this slowing down period has reminded them of it. There's lot's to talk about on that which I'm not going to, I'm sure you know all the stories from the outside. I suppose now it's my chance to pick it up a little bit, that's the plan anyway.
"Certainly find more stability to the situation because of what's been going on, but equally because the fact that they did have a fantastic season and there's a lot of players here from that season. There's still a lot to build on. Hopefully the fans will come with us on that rekindling."
Finding that stability will begin with a challenging clash against Portuguese giants Porto at the City Ground on Thursday night.
The Portuguese league leaders are unbeaten so far this season, including in the Europa League, and Dyche is hoping his squad can begin to recapture the feeling from last season with a good performance.
"It's a great game, it's a very challenging game, they've had a fantastic start. But from our point of view, get back to that edge.
"There was an edge to them last season, it's hard to define it but as a manager you know, and I commended them on it when I came in.
"It's hard to explain, but it smelt right, and that's a weird thing to say but managers know the code. It smelt right, the group, the energy of the side.
"When you're watching from the side you think that's a good outfit, that's an outfit that means business. I reminded them of that, so we've certainly got to do that.
"So what I am expecting is that feeling. There's no guarantee you'll win the game, but I want that feeling.
"It gives you a whole better chance if people are all really at their performance level, and that's what we're looking for."
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