Nottm Forest Manager's Since I started following the Reds in the 1967/68 Season

​

Clearly an Opinion Only!

​

​​Johnny Carey -  (Aug 63 to Dec 68) - In fairness, as I was only 6 as the 1967/68 season began, I can't comment too much about him, though the record books show he had his teams playing great football and he certainly turned Forest into a 'sexy' team. I know how fondly many talk about the 66/67 season where we came so close to  the league & cup double & that was some achievement. 8/10

​

Matt Gillies -  (Jan 69 to Oct 72) - Dismantled a good Forest side all too quickly. I remember the relegation season well in 71/72 which Gillies presided over & we were hopeless under him and no better as the 72/73 season began. Never popular with the fans as I recall. 4.5/10

​

Dave Mackay -  (Nov 72 to Oct 73) - Was doing a decent job but luckily for him he had Duncan McKenzie hitting top form. Cleared off to Derby when Cloughie resigned there; a blessing in disguise you may say. 6/10

​

Allan Brown - (Nov 73 to Jan 75) - Thankful for that 1973/74 season but again he had Mckenzie in brilliant form. No good once he had been sold. 5/10

​

Brian Clough - (Jan 75 to May 93) - Simply the best and so grateful for all the memories. You cannot find enough words to do the man justice: brilliant & a genius. Without Peter Taylor, who should never be forgotten either, I would say 9.5/10. With Peter Taylor 10/10.

​

Frank Clark - (June 93 to Dec 96) - Frank did a good job for the most part although some of it was good luck I think. Stan Collymore had already been lined up to be signed and he duly arrived. He was quite simply awesome for the 2 seasons we had him. Frank also persuaded Psycho to stay, a masterstroke. Promoted at the 1st time of asking, then 3rd in the Premier League cannot go unnoticed, but once Stan was sold, it was largely downhill. 7.5/10

​

I am not going to rate the caretaker Manager's, such as Stuart Pearce / Charlie and Frank etc, so after a short time with Psycho at the helm, we were again relegated at the end of the 1996/97 season.

​

Dave Bassett - (June 97 to Jan 99) - A very good manager & better than was given credit for who did well for Forest in trying times. Had the rug pulled from under him by the board following promotion to the Premier League in 1998. The best, to date, we have had since BC. 8/10

​

Ron Atkinson - (Jan 99 to May 99) - A lot of money for very little return. Never came close to saving us. 3/10

​

David Platt - (July 99 to May 01) - No redeeming features. Certainly rated himself. Wasted millions ,of other people's money. The worst Manager in the history of the club. 0/10

​

Paul Hart - (Aug 01 to Jan 04) - Restored pride and we nearly made it up in 2002/3. Played attractive football and Harty managed the club with little money as Platt had wasted it all through a very tricky time. 6.5/10

​

Joe Kinnear - (Jan 04 to Dec 04) - Saved us from relegation when he replaced Harty but what followed in 04/05 was quite simply awful. The worst Forest team I have ever seen & the worst season I ever experienced, which eventually saw us relegated to League One. Following a humiliating defeat at Pride Park, and his comments before and after the game, there was only going to be one outcome and he was gone within days, months before relegation was finally confirmed but never in doubt. 2/10

​

Gary Megson - (Jan 05 to Feb 06) - Never a Forest man but at least I would credit him and say he had dignity. Never ever called the club or the fans, took some stick and was not helped by some of the senior pros at the club at the time. 2.5/10

​

Charlie & Frank lifted the gloom and we, incredibly, nearly made the play off's

​

Colin Calderwood - (Aug 06 to Dec 08) - Probably divided the fans in terms of opinion of him more than any other Forest manager I can think of, 50/50. I will always be grateful to him for getting us out that awful league, albeit at the 2nd time of asking, although nobody can blame him for the way in which the players capitulated in that play off against Yeovil.  He made some good signings and he did give us, including Nigel Doughty that memorable day in the sun when we got promoted, when with 7 games to go, most had thought it gone. Whether or not we would have stayed up, following his sacking we will never know. 6.5/10  

​

Billy Davies - (Jan 09 to June 11 & Feb 13 to Mar 14) - Saved us from relegation followed by 2 successive play off campaigns 1st time around. In his second spell, lifted the place when he came in for Mcleish, but something went horribly wrong. You hear allsorts and it's difficult to know exactly what the truth is. However, his disgusting attitude towards the Forest fans at Derby was just about as low as you could get and I'm glad he has gone. He should remember it was those very fans he snubbed who got him his job back and no doubt helped make him a very rich man. To try and give a blanced view, all factors considered, 1st spell 7.5/10 ... 2nd spell 4.5/10 but in the end did a lot of damage. 

​

Steve Mclaren - (Aug 11 to Oct 11) - Horrendous. 2/10

​

Steve Cotterill - (Oct 11 to June 12) - With help of SOD kept us up and managed the club over a very difficult time and uncertainty, especially following the death of Nigel Douhty. I did not like his style of football. 4/10

​

Shaun O'Driscoll - (Aug 12 to Dec 12) -  A little bit unlucky and did O.K for us. Tried to play decent football for the most part. I hope he keeps Bristol City up. A bit too negative for me though. 6/10

​

Alex Mcleish - (Jan 13 to Feb 13) - I did not really want him here in 1st place but still welcomed him on his 1st game. Bit unfair to judge over such a short tenure, but little was going right. A decent bloke, just probably not right for us but showed a lot of dignity. 4.5/10.

 

Stuart Pearce - Time will tell but a superb appointment for me. 1/2/15 - Sacked - Far too soon - Once again we don't give a Manager enough time ... 6/10 - I'm sure he would have sorted it given time.

 

Dougie Freedman - A decent appointment so far as I am concerned ... We simply have to give him time ...

 

2016/17 ... Philippe Montanier followed by Gary Brazil - neither worked out ... Let's hope Mark Warburton proves to be a great choice ... Feeling optimistic ... and he saved us from relegation so that's a good start ...

   

  

​