The pundit believes the appointment could mean Forest are in a relegation scrap
Carrington Walker GAU Writer
14:45, 21 Oct 2025
Sean Dyche
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The pundit believes the appointment could mean Forest are in a relegation scrap(Image: Getty)
Premier League-winning striker and BBC pundit Chris Sutton has given a damning assessment of the managerial situation at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest confirm Sean Dyche as the club's third head coach of the season.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis decided to sack Ange Postecoglou, who was appointed manager a little over a month ago, replacing Nuno Espirito Santo, shortly after the full-time whistle blew on Forest's 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea.
The sacking confirmed Postecoglou's reign, which saw him fail to win a match while in charge, instead drawing two and losing six of his eight games in charge, as the second shortest in Premier League history, lasting just 39 days.
"It's a mess, isn't it?" Nottingham-born Chris Sutton asked on the BBC's Monday Night Club, shortly before Dyche's appointment was confirmed.
Sean Dyche
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Sean Dyche(Image: PA)
"If Dyche gets over the line, it is an admission that they got it wrong with Ange Postecoglou and are thinking about survival.
"Dyche has always managed clubs where it has been a struggle. He bucked the trend at Burnley and got the best out of the players he had and proved himself to be an extremely capable manager."
Forest are currently 18th in the Premier League, yet to win in the Europa League and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Swansea, after achieving their highest ever Premier League finish under Nuno, last season.
"At Everton he [Dyche] took over a team in trouble and stabilised the club. He had points deductions to contend with," Sutton added.
"Forest want to stay in the league, so it seems a sensible appointment. They won't go down, they have too many good players."
Other pundits have highlighted how Forest's attacking signings in the summer, part of their £200million spending spree, which included the acquisitions of Omari Hutchinson, Dan Ndoye, Dilane Bakwa and more, were a sign of tactical intent for the upcoming campaign.
Now, after the sacking of attack-minded Postecoglou, Sean Dyche, known to adopt a defensively solid philosophy, must get the best out of this squad.
Pundit Chris Sutton
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Chris Sutton hints Forest are worried about surviving in the Premier League.
While confirming Dyche's appointment, the club stated it was "delighted to confirm the appointment of Sean Dyche as the Club’s new Head Coach, following a thorough recruitment process led by Global Head of Football, Edu Gaspar, and Global Technical Director, George Syrianos.
"The former Forest youth player joins the Club on a contract running until the summer of 2027 and will take charge of his first match on Thursday night as The Reds take on FC Porto in the Europa League."
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The statement added: "Dyche brings the perfect blend of character, tactical acumen and proven achievement to guide the Club through its next chapter. Having managed more than 330 Premier League matches in his career to date, Dyche has built teams defined by defensive organisation, resilience, and strength from set pieces - qualities that align closely with the current squad’s attributes and the Club’s footballing identity.
"As a former Forest youth player who lives locally, Dyche also has a deep understanding of the values and pride of Forest and its supporters. With his character, tactical acumen and man-management skills, his appointment represents the best opportunity for a successful and competitive season across both domestic and European competitions."