Evangelos Marinakis must make Steve Cooper decision before Nottingham Forest dressing room is toxic

Lewis McGugan says Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis must make a decision on Steve Cooper's future as he warns the dressing room could eventually become 'toxic'.

Forest slipped to 17th place in the Premier League with one win in 13 games after they lost 2-0 to Tottenham on Friday night. There were some encouraging signs in the performance, but few managers keep their job with such a record regardless of achievements at the club.

McGugan says Cooper's track record of taking the team to the Premier League and keeping them up means he should get every chance to turn it around, but in the end, Marinakis needs to make a decision to back him or sack him with the January transfer window on the horizon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDv6lpB6JTI&t=658s

Speaking on Monday's Forest Focus podcast, former Reds midfielder McGugan said the current cloud over the club could lead to the dressing room becoming deeply split as he questioned the signings made since promotion.

He said: "When I look at Nottingham Forest since they got to the Premier League, the recruitment has been crazy in my opinion. It's been sporadic and there's no thought behind it.

"From a manager's point of view, there's players in there Steve Cooper wanted, but there's also players the owner wanted and his advisors pushed for. That's how football works and as a manager you have to deal with that.

"Every manager has players they really want to push for but there may be areas that you're not too keen on, but you have to factor that in. What's not helped the manager is, if you look at this season's signings, none have really hit the ground running.

"Over the season he's reverted back to what he knows. When you're a manager or a player you simplify it and strip it back in a tough situation. Yates and Williams have come back in and performed really well.

"We're looking at it and thinking those players have stood up but any decision lies with the owner and how he wants the team to look. There's so much of a cloud over the club in the last month. Everyone is looking at each result and team selection.

"It's no good for the team and there just needs to be a cut off point. Steve Cooper has done a fantastic job for the club and the city. He deserves more time than everyone but if you want to go somewhere else do it and let's thank him and move on.

"If you want to keep him, let's make that clear, give him in the January window and let's push on. This week to week thing is no good for the manager or the football club. It's no good for the changing room. It will become toxic.

"You have players coming in and out of the team. When you're out the team they'll look at it that a new manager would be good for them. Some will like him and some won't. The manager has to deal with that on top of getting results. Sometimes it becomes untenable.

"There needs to be a decision made, right or wrong. Everyone will have an opinion. That's life but for the club to move on and stay in this league there needs to be a cut off point and we need to go in one direction."