Nottingham Forest proprietor Evangelos Marinakis has ended hypothesis over supervisor Steve Cooper’s future by confirming the Welshman will hold his job.
Cooper had come below mounting strain after Forest’s 2-1 loss at relegation-rivals Leeds prolonged their winless Premier League run to eight matches.
Forest’s fourth straight league defeat on the street has left them above the underside three solely on purpose distinction.
Marinakis has moved shortly to assist stabilise the membership with 9 fixtures remaining by giving Cooper his backing amid “false and disruptive reporting within the media”.
The Greek billionaire mentioned in a press release: “Nobody denies that our membership is in a tough place within the Premier League, however we want to finish the hypothesis and the false and disruptive reporting within the media to substantiate that Steve Cooper stays our supervisor at Nottingham Forest.
“Now we have all been disenchanted with current performances and it is vitally clear that numerous exhausting work must be executed to handle this urgently. Outcomes and performances should enhance instantly.
“Now’s the time for everybody related with our membership, from us as homeowners, to the board, our supporters, backroom employees, coaches and gamers – to come back collectively and struggle to safe our standing within the Premier League.I actually consider within the gamers, I actually consider in what we do and actually consider within the membership
“There might be no time for distractions, rumours and hypothesis. There may be solely time for exhausting work, willpower, a dedication from Steve and the gamers to getting the outcomes we want and, after all, the continued magnificent assist of the followers of Nottingham Forest.”
Cooper, who guided Forest to promotion to the highest flight with victory in final season’s Sky Wager Championship play-off ultimate, signed a brand new contract final October.
He insisted after his aspect’s defeat at Elland Highway that he was not nervous about his personal future.
“I respect the query and I perceive it 100 per cent, however I’m not that man that thinks like that,” he mentioned.
“I all the time consider the higher good of the membership, so any form of fear, disappointment, frustration I’m feeling proper now’s the truth that Forest have misplaced a recreation they may have executed so a lot better in
“That’s simply the best way I’m wired. I’ve educated myself simply to concentrate on the stuff I can management and work as exhausting as I can each single day, consider in my work and keep true to it. That’s simply the place I’m at.”
Forest’s sole league win on the street this season was at backside membership Southampton in early January, however the former England Below-17s and Swansea boss mentioned he trusted in himself and his gamers to safe their top-flight standing.
He added: “I actually consider within the gamers, I actually consider in what we do and actually consider within the membership and it’s a bit irritating now as a result of we simply performed like we did.
“There was a possibility to go thirteenth within the league, construct a little bit of a spot and clearly Leeds have been going for a similar factor as nicely and there’s frustration round that.”
Leeds climbed 5 locations as much as thirteenth – nonetheless solely two factors above the relegation zone – and have collected 10 factors from Javi Gracia’s six league video games in cost.
Gracia has a 50 per cent win ration since changing Jesse Marsch in February following wins towards Southampton, Wolves and Forest and mentioned defensive self-discipline had been key to his aspect’s newest success.
The Spaniard mentioned “I’m very, very proud with the angle of the group defending.
“I’ve seen many video games and know the way tough it’s to be nicely organised throughout all the sport and concentrated all the sport.
“We did it in a vital recreation in the most effective second for us. We’ve made an essential step and now we’re excited about the subsequent.”