Nuno Espirito Santo's tenure at Nottingham Forest faces serious doubt after the Portuguese manager publicly acknowledged a breakdown in his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis.
The 51-year-old's candid admission that their rapport is "not the same" and "not so good as it was" has thrown his immediate future into question, despite the club's substantial financial backing during the summer transfer window.
Forest's hierarchy reportedly had no plans to dismiss their manager before his unexpected media comments on Friday.
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Nuno Espirito Santo added fuel to the fire that there is a major rift between him and the Nottingham Forest board
|PA
The timing of Nuno's revelations, just 48 hours before a significant Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace, has particularly unsettled club officials.
His frank assessment that "where there's smoke, there's fire" regarding speculation about his position has intensified concerns about whether he will remain in the dugout for Sunday's match.
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The Greek billionaire owner and senior executives at the City Ground are reportedly mystified by their manager's decision to air grievances publicly.
Sky Sports report that there is particular frustration that Nuno chose to speak out just before a vital encounter with Palace, who narrowly missed European qualification whilst Forest secured Europa League football.
The timing has prompted serious doubts within the organisation about the Portuguese coach's dedication to his role.
This scepticism emerges despite Marinakis authorising expenditure exceeding £118 million on four new signings in the past week alone.
The owner apparently views this significant financial commitment as clear evidence of his continued support for the manager.
Internal anger has reportedly grown over what some perceive as unnecessarily disruptive comments ahead of an emotionally charged fixture and there are now serious doubts over whether the Portuguese coach will be in the dugout for Sunday's match.
Nuno's deteriorating relationship with Marinakis became apparent through his remarkably candid media briefing, where he confirmed their connection had fundamentally changed from the previous season.
"I always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season was very close. This season, not so well. No, it's not [good]," the manager stated.
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Nuno Espirito Santo and Evangelos Marinakis have had disputes before | GETTYHe acknowledged being "worried" and "concerned" about the situation, whilst admitting uncertainty about the underlying causes of the rift.
"The reality is that it is not what it used to be. What it used to be was a good, respectful relationship, but was more based on trust and sharing opinions, and now it's not so good," Nuno explained.
Reports indicate that tensions may stem from a challenging dynamic with Edu Gaspar, Forest's recently appointed global head of football.
The Brazilian's appointment last month to supervise recruitment across Marinakis' football empire, including Olympiakos and Rio Ave, appears to have created friction despite Forest's organisational structure remaining unchanged.
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Nottingham Forest head of football Edu Gaspar is reportedly the main reason behind the rift
| PAThere is genuine concern that Nuno might not lead the team against Palace on Sunday, with some suggesting the manager could be attempting to force his own dismissal.
His recent interview with Sky Sports, where he described the squad as "unbalanced" and "very, very far" from readiness, preceded the owner's substantial investment in new players.
Since assuming control in December 2023, Nuno has operated as head coach with input on transfers whilst focusing primarily on first-team management.