Latest Nottingham Forest news as Ryan Yates discusses appointment of Sean Dyche as Reds head coach
05:00, 23 Oct 2025
New head coach Sean Dyche oversees Nottingham Forest training
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New head coach Sean Dyche oversees Nottingham Forest training(Image: Getty)
Club captain Ryan Yates is eager to get the feelgood factor back at the City Ground after Nottingham Forest’s miserable run of form.
It is a fresh start for the Reds this evening as Sean Dyche, their third head coach of the season, takes charge of his first game. Porto are the visitors for a big Europa League clash, for which general admission seats have now sold out.
When European football made its return Trentside for the first time in almost 30 years earlier this month, the occasion did not go as hoped. Forest were beaten 3-2 by FC Midtjylland and fans turned on then manager Ange Postecoglou.
It was an ugly atmosphere as chants about the Australian getting the sack rang out. He kept his job for a further two games before the axe fell after Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea.
The Reds’ success in recent years has had a strong bond between supporters, players and the man in the hot seat at its heart. That was certainly the case under Steve Cooper and Nuno Espirito Santo, and Yates is certain it will be so under Dyche.
“I feel like a massive strength of this football club is getting that connection between the fans, the players and the manager,” said the midfielder. “Let’s be honest, over the last few weeks, we haven't had a good feeling around here. The City Ground hasn't been as lively.
“The new manager and his coaching staff have brought that new sense of life, that energy. We’ll see what happens and we're really looking forward to it.
“We have a new opportunity now. It’s been tough, but it’s the players’ responsibility - you can’t just pin it on an individual.”
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He added: “We were getting clapped off after a 3-0 home defeat on Saturday, and that's quite humbling for the players. Walking in after that, the lads were saying we owe it to the fans now - whatever decision the club made moving forward - we owe more because that's unacceptable and it's not a nice feeling.
“At the end of the day, we owe it to them, after a poor start, to give even more for the badge and to work even harder. And we owe it to the club to start picking up results as soon as we can because when you’ve got that buzz at the City Ground…
“We can’t lose sight of the fact we're in Europe and that we've got an incredible opportunity. When we get them results, when we get that result tomorrow night, it's going to be special. It's going to really kickstart our season and we're really looking forward to it.”
Ex-Forest youth player Dyche has some familiar faces in his backroom staff. Former fans’ favourites Ian Woan and Steve Stone are part of his coaching set-up, as are Billy Mercer and Tony Loughlan who also had spells at the club as players.
Yates welcomes that connection with the past. He said: “That’s very important. I think probably not since Roy Keane and Martin O'Neill were here, have we had a coaching staff who’ve got that connection.
“I feel like they just understand what the club's about, the culture, what makes it tick and they know it straight away. You’d like to think that's going to help the players.”
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