Stuart Pearce fears the uncertainty over Nuno Espírito Santo’s future could overshadow Forest’s first European season in 30 years.
Nuno’s relationship with volatile owner Evangelos Marinakis has been a red-hot talking point among the Forest faithful in recent weeks and a 3-0 home defeat against struggling West Ham on Sunday did little to lift the mood ahead of the international break.
Forest are looking forward to European football for the first time since the 1995/96 season, when Pearce captained the club in what was then the UEFA Cup.
But he hopes their latest continental jaunts do not become jeopardised by any further managerial uncertainty.
“The club, the fans and the squad of players, they are all in a really good place at the moment, and it saddens me to be talking about Nuno and his relationship with the owner of the football club,” he said.
“That's a side issue. They should be concentrating and focusing on all the good that's happened at that football club. I hope it's resolved soon.
“They’ve got a European campaign coming up, the first one since I was back there as a player in 96, which is quite an incredible wait for a club of Forest’s magnitude and history.”
Former Wolves and Spurs boss Nuno has been in charge at the City Ground since December 2023, after the sacking of Steve Cooper, and guided the club to safety on the final day of the season.
Last term, the 51-year-old then masterminded Forest’s transformation from relegation candidates to Champions League contenders, with the club sitting third heading into May.
Stuart Pearce was speaking in his role as a Pitching In ambassador
Stuart Pearce was speaking in his role as a Pitching In ambassador
Despite fading in the final month of the season, Forest still recorded their highest Premier League position since finishing third in 1994/95, and Pearce, who made 522 appearances during his 12 years at the club, was full of praise for Nuno and his development since his previous stint in the England’s topflight.
“Nuno is a wonderful manager for the football club,” he continued. “He really gets Forest and the feel of the club beyond the pitch.
“I wasn’t sure when Steve Cooper left the club to be quite honest, I thought that was a bit harsh, but since, Nuno has been instrumental.
“He's evolved into somebody that's more approachable and more open than he was when he first came to these shores, which is great to see.
“When you're happy in your workplace, like he seemed to be at Forest [prior to all this recent talk] that's a great thing.”
Forest saw off Malmö FF, Auxerre and Lyon on their way to the UEFA Cup last eight during their last soiree on the continent and Pearce thinks Forest’s current style of play will make them a dangerous outfit to play against.
He added: “This is as strong a Nottingham Forest squad as it’s been for several years. Their counter-attacking method of playing will make them a real threat during a European campaign.
“I think their Premier League campaign might suffer slightly on the back of playing in Europe, but I think the way they play football, they’ll cause real trouble to European sides.
“I expect them to go very deep into the tournament.”
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Pearce was speaking on a visit to Southern League Division One South side Sporting Club Inkberrow as part of his role as a Pitching In ambassador to promote the role of volunteers at non-league clubs.
“The importance of volunteers is massive, clubs at this level wouldn’t function without them,” he said.
“I know what it's done for me in those early years from the age of 16 to 21, when the club gave me the chance to come in and help me get to the pro game. You can sense the feel-good-factor, and the community feel, that’s something you don’t really get in the pro game.
“With non-league volunteering, it’s about making people feel involved. They are the people who put the games on, and we should be grateful to them for what they do.”
Find volunteering opportunities near you at https://pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk
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