A remarkable press conference with Nuno Espirito Santo on Friday lunchtime saw the Nottingham Forest head coach admit to a deterioration in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis.
The Reds head coach discussed his lack of communication with the Greek businessman and also responded to rumours of his job being under threat. It was a shocking no-holds-barred Q&A with the Portuguese.
Any focus on Sunday's crunch clash with Crystal Palace (2pm kick-off) essentially fell by the wayside as the agenda was overtaken by talk of Nuno's relationship with the Forest owner.
Follow the dialogue word-by-word...
Q: You have talked about the conversations with the owner you have always had through the week. How intense were they when the squad wasn't where you wanted it to be, and how have they been since players have come in?
A: "Look, I always had a very good relationship with the owner. Last season was very, very, very close, (talking on an) almost daily basis. This season, not so well.
“But I always believe that dialogue and what you say or your opinion is always valid, because my concern is the squad and the season that we have ahead of us. But our relations have changed.”
Q: It has changed?
A: "Yeah, it is not so close. It is not (talking) on a daily basis. So, yeah."
Q: Is that a good thing, though?
A: "No, it's not good. I think everybody at the club should be together, but it is not the reality.”
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Q: What has happened regarding the relationship? There is now another layer of management there (in Edu), is that what has caused this gap between the two of you?
A: “I don't know exactly, but I'm being honest with you. I cannot say that it is the same because it's not the same.
“The reason behind it, I don't know. What I said last week or two weeks ago (about transfers) was my concern and why I was worried.
“Because my job is always to try to anticipate what's coming ahead of us, and that's what I said. What I said was with respect.
“But the reality is that it (the relationship) 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."
Q: Is this inevitable in football because it's a game of strong opinions?
A: “No. My job is clear. In the club, in Forest, we are all aware, my job is to manage the team, prepare the team well and always, with my major concern, improving players individually, trying to get them to the next level so we can get the best out of them. This is what I always do and it's my major, major focus.
“But in the club there are different opinions. I'm someone that says my opinions, sticks there and then I do my job. And my job, like I said to you, is to prepare the team.”
Q: Do you think the relationship can grow close again?
A: “I hope so. I don’t know. That I cannot answer. On my side I am doing whatever I can to help Forest. My commitment is… I see it and I feel it. I feel it.”
Q: Usually when a manager says the relationship with an owner has changed, it only ends one way. What would you say to that?
A: "We (the media and Nuno) know each other very well, and we have all been in the industry for a while now. And where there's smoke, there's fire, so I know how things work. But I'm here to do my job."
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Q: What do you think about the stories on social media about your job being at risk?
A: "Like I said, I have been around. When there's smoke, there's fire. I was also on the other side without a job and knowing what's happening."
Q: Fans are going to be really worried, can you understand that?
A: "I understand, because I'm worried. I'm the first one to be worried. I'm the first one to be concerned, because my focus is on Palace and all these things are distracting us - not only us but also the players. We have to face it, it is the reality."
Q: Has anything been said to you about it all?
A: "No, absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing."
Nuno on other subjects
Q: You were very open last week about the state of your squad. Is the squad now nearer to where you want it to be?
A: "Yes, it's nearer. It's not complete yet. We still have need for another goalkeeper option and at full-back."
Q: Is Douglas Luiz ready to play this weekend and what kind of impact can he have?
A: "All the players have joined. Now we are assessing totally different situations.
"Douglas only joined this morning, in the preparation for set-pieces. Let's see. We are assessing them all.
"I think they (the new signings) are going to be useful, no doubt about it. First of all, our job is to integrate them into the squad and then I think they can help us."
Q: You have lots of options up front now. That must be a nice problem to have?
A: "It is a nice one. Chris Wood started the season on fire, so we are delighted with that.
"We have good options. Igor (Jesus) did all of the pre-season, where we tried different things. We also still have T (Taiwo Awoniyi) and Kali (Arnaud Kalimuendo). I think he (Kalimuendo) can be a good option in terms of a different profile - speed, more pace. There (up front) we are OK."
Q: Do you also want to see some players leave before the window closes?
A: "It is very important for what we want and what we have established as our routines, in terms of squad bonds, to not have anyone frustrated. At this moment, we have some players who know they will go on loan and we are going to try to find the best solutions."
Q: Are you expecting a difficult atmosphere against Palace?
A: "Of course, due to the whole situation - especially with the narrative that has been going on that Forest is the one responsible for the situation of Palace (being demoted to the Conference League), which is not true. I think we did a good job last season to achieve Europe and we are delighted we are going to face a new challenge.
"What happened (with Palace), it is not us to blame. But I expect on Sunday, with all the respects, it is going to be a tough atmosphere for the game."
Q: How do you cope with that and prepare your players to deal with it?
A: "We are aware. More than ever we have to stick together and help each other. We are going to have our fans there to back us. But the team has to be brave and has to focus on the game, against an always-tough opponent."
What do you make of Nuno's comments? Click HERE to have your say