Nottingham Forest manager latest - Reds set to appoint Martin O'Neill
Keep up to date with the Reds' search for a new manager
James Pallatt
Martin O'Neill
Welcome to today's Nottingham Forest live blog.
We will bring you the latest Reds news throughout Monday as the Reds continue their search for a new manager, following the departure of Aitor Karanka on Friday.
Slavisa Jokanovic, Martin O'Neill and Carlos Carvalhal were on the club's initial shortlist of possible replacements for the Spaniard, while Paulo Sousa has also been linked with the City Ground hotseat.
We will keep you up to date with any fresh developments on that front.
If a new manager arrives today, you will be able to read all about it, right here.
Reds legend Kenny Burns will also give his views on all of the major talking points at the club, including what he thinks about the managerial situation at his old club.
So join us throughout the day to make sure you don't miss anything.
Derby boss Frank Lampard relishes prospect of taking on Forest team led by Martin O'Neill 17:01
Jorge Grant becomes third Forest player to join Mansfield Town on loan 15:51
Forest legend Peter Shilton reacts to Martin O'Neill appointment 15:29
'All I can say is good luck' - O'Neill feared Forest chance had passed him by 14:48
'Welcome home!' - Forest fans react to Martin O'Neill appointment 14:05
So, Martin O'Neill is coming home.
We're not expecting an official announcement on his appointment tonight, but we'll be back at 7am on Tuesday to make sure we're in place for when the Reds do confirm his return to the club.
Thanks for joining us today.
A round-up of today's top stories (so far)...
Derby boss Frank Lampard relishes prospect of taking on Forest team led by Martin O'Neill
Derby County manager Frank Lampard (Image: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
Derby boss Frank Lampard is relishing the prospect of going up against a Nottingham Forest team led by Martin O'Neill.
O'Neill is set to become the Reds' new manager, following Aitor Karanka's departure from the City Ground last week.
And Lampard thinks he's a "good fit" for the Rams' arch-rivals.
Keane to be O'Neill's No.2?
Jorge Grant becomes third Forest player to join Mansfield Town on loan
Jorge Grant was back in action for Forest's Under-23s against Hull (Image: Dan Westwell)
Jorge Grant has joined Mansfield Town on loan, to join a growing band of Nottingham Forest players at the League Two club.
Forest legend Peter Shilton reacts to Martin O'Neill appointment
Nottingham Forest legend Peter Shilton believes his former teammate Martin O'Neill is the perfect successor to Aitor Karanka at the City Ground.
Shilton and O'Neill played together at Forest between 1977 and 1981, and were part of the teams that won two consecutive European Cups in 1979 and 1980 respectively.
And the former Forest goalkeeper believes O'Neill's knowledge of the club and the fact he is woven into the history of the club will be key in him succeeding at Forest.
Grant joins Stags on loan
'All I can say is good luck' - O'Neill feared Forest chance had passed him by
Martin O'Neill with Brian Clough and Peter Taylor when Nottingham Forest flew from East Midlands Airport to face Dynamo Berlin in the European Cup in 1980.
It is an opportunity that, only a few years ago, Martin O'Neill admitted he feared had passed him by.
There are more than a few Nottingham Forest fans who might have felt the same way, with O'Neill understood to have been close to making an emotional return to the City Ground more than once over the years, without it ever quite coming to fruition.
Brian Clough was regarded by many as being the best manager England never had. And, when O'Neill's stock was at its highest, there were more than a few who felt the same way about him and Forest.
'Welcome home!' - Forest fans react to Martin O'Neill appointment
Nottingham Forest fans have thrown their backing behind new manager Martin O'Neill ahead of his impending arrival at the City Ground.
Why Martin O'Neill ticks two of the biggest boxes for Forest
Martin O'Neill ticks the two biggest boxes for Nottingham Forest, says our Reds man Paul Taylor - because he has a track record of success and he knows the 'Forest way'.
O'Neill is set to make an emotional return to the City Ground as their new manager, following the departure of Aitor Karanka.
And you can watch Paul's verdict on the decision to appoint the 66-year-old in our latest Forest video HERE
O'Neill 'a very good choice' - Shilton
'Best manager I played under' - Stan Collymore's verdict as Martin O'Neill lands Forest job
Stan Collymore has revealed Slavisa Jokanovic would have been his top choice to replace Aitor Karanka as Nottingham Forest manager.
But the former Reds striker has given Martin O'Neill a ringing endorsement by saying he's the "best manager" he played for in his career, having played for O'Neill at Leicester City.
'It is not thought likely Roy Keane will return to Forest with O'Neill'
Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane (Image: Getty Images)
Forest had drawn up a manager shortlist that included Slavisa Jokanovic, Carlos Carvalhal and O'Neill.
Jokanovic, who had guided Fulham and Watford to promotion from the Championship, was initially Forest's primary choice, but the Serbian had second thoughts about taking on the role.
But the latest talks with O'Neill over the last few days are understood to have been hugely positive, with the Forest hierarchy impressed by O'Neill's passion and desire, when it comes to restoring the club's position in the top flight, after two decades away.
O'Neill's backroom staff are still to be confirmed, but it is not thought likely that Roy Keane will return to Forest with O'Neill, to become part of the new management team.
O'Neill 'best manager I played under' - Collymore
O'Neill will be new Forest manager
Martin O'Neill will be the next manager of Nottingham Forest.
No official word from the club yet, but we understand a deal has been agreed that will see O'Neill become the new manager.
O'Neill has been out of work since leaving Republic of Ireland in November.
O'Neill was on the club's three-man shortlist for the job as soon as Aitor Karanka left on Friday, alongside Slavisa Jokanovic and Carlos Carvalhal.
Reds set to appoint O'Neill as new boss
Forest are expected to appoint Martin O'Neill as their new manager.
More to follow...
Slavisa Jokanovic the 'obvious' choice for Forest
Slavisa Jokanovic
Slavisa Jokanovic is the "obvious" choice to be Nottingham Forest's new manager.
'Ah shut up, just come in and play' - Ireland ask Forest striker to come out of international retirement
Daryl Murphy (Image: PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images)
Nottingham Forest striker Daryl Murphy has been asked to come out of international retirement by Republic of Ireland.
The 35-year-old decided to call it a day almost a year ago, after Ireland failed to qualify for the World Cup.
'Multiple enquiries' for Forest striker
Jason Cummings is on loan at Posh from Forest (Image: Getty Images Europe)
Nottingham Forest striker Jason Cummings is said to have attracted "multiple enquiries" from clubs.
'It is a fantastic opportunity' - Forest seek to appoint new boss as soon as possible
Caretaker manager Simon Ireland (Image: Dan Westwell)
Managing Nottingham Forest is the best opportunity going in the Championship, says Simon Ireland.
The Reds caretaker boss believes whoever takes on the role will inherit a squad that is still capable of challenging for promotion this season.
Injury update on Forest's Figueiredo amid looming defensive crisis
Tobias Figueiredo goes off injured for Forest (Image: JMS Photography)
Nottingham Forest hope to have Tobias Figueiredo fit to face Bristol City next weekend, to help address a looming defensive crisis.
'I'd have liked more opportunities' - Gboly Ariyibi on his two years at Forest
Gboly Ariyibi in action (Image: Dan Westwell)
Gboly Ariyibi says he would have liked "more opportunities" at Nottingham Forest.
The 23-year-old winger has not played once for the Reds since moving to the City Ground almost two years ago.
Madejski misery has put pressure on Forest to quickly find right man to replace Karanka
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis at the Madejski Stadium (Image: Dan Westwell)
If they were not acutely aware already, Nottingham Forest were offered a fresh, painful reminder of the need to act with urgency and purpose, as they work to appoint a new manager.
Read Paul Taylor's big-match analysis HERE
Carlos Carvalhal 'waiting in the wings' for Forest job
Carlos Carvalhal
Carlos Carvalhal is said to be "waiting in the wings" for the Nottingham Forest job.
What we know so far about Forest's manager search
It is now three days since Nottingham Forest announced Aitor Karanka's departure from the City Ground.
Since issuing a statement about the Spaniard's exit on Friday, the Reds have been silent on their search for his successor.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis was in the stands as the Reds kicked off the post-Karanka era at Reading in the Championship, losing 2-0 under caretaker manager Simon Ireland. And so too, was chairman Nicholas Randall.
But there has been no further statement from the club about their progress in finding a new manager, or a potential time frame, although, understandably, it is understood Forest will seek to make an appointment as soon as possible.
Could Slavisa Jokanovic be the man the Reds turn to in their bid to win promotion to the Premier League this season? Here's what we know so far...
Welcome to today's live blog.
We've got the Reds covered - so stay tuned for the latest news from the City Ground.
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