Nottingham Forest have taken the brutal decision to dismiss manager Nuno Espirito Santo, casting the club into immediate turmoil in their fight for Premier League survival.
The shock announcement comes hot on the heels of a disastrous 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday, a result that leaves Forest perilously close to the relegation zone.
A Short and Unsuccessful Reign
Nuno's tenure at the City Ground was remarkably brief, lasting a mere 17 matches after he was brought in to replace the popular Steve Cooper in December. The club's hierarchy, led by owner Evangelos Marinakis, had hoped the former Wolves and Tottenham boss would steer them to safety.
However, the Portuguese coach managed just five wins during his short spell, a return deemed insufficient for a club with ambitions of consolidating its top-flight status.
Relegation Six-Pointer Proves Final Straw
The match against Everton was billed as a crucial six-pointer, and Forest's abject performance appears to have been the final straw for an impatient Marinakis. Goals from Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil sealed a vital win for the Toffees, simultaneously pushing Forest deeper into the mire.
The defeat leaves Forest in 17th place, a mere four points above the drop zone and having played a game more than 18th-placed Luton Town, making their position increasingly precarious.
Search for a Saviour Begins Immediately
The club's statement confirmed the departure of Nuno and his entire coaching staff, including assistant Rui Pedro Silva and first-team coaches Antonio Dias and Julio Figueroa.
'Nottingham Forest can confirm that Head Coach Nuno Espirito Santo has left the club,' the statement read. 'The club would like to thank Nuno and his coaching staff for their services and wish them well for the future.'
The hunt for a new manager—Forest's third this season—is already underway, with the club's Premier League fate hanging in the balance with just nine games remaining.
