Sean Dyche lasted just 114 days at Nottingham Forest but he insists he has no regrets about going in at the City Ground
Brian Dick Reach Football Correspondent
13:59, 07 Apr 2026
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis
View Image
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis(Image: PA)
Sean Dyche insists he has no issue with Evangelos Marinakis even though the Nottingham Forest owner dismissed the 54-year-old after less than four months in charge.
Dyche was the third of the Reds’ four managers this season, having replaced Nuno Espirito Santo’s successor Ange Postecoglou in October.
However the axe swung his way after ten wins in 25 games and in February he was himself replaced by Vitor Pereira.
Speaking on talkSPORT Dyche insists he knew what he was getting into when he agreed to take over at the City Ground.
“There are some things ownership do well and I know Mr Marinakis in particular, I must give him a shout on this, he looked after a few players properly with private situations, incredible what he supported them with,” he said.
“But there's another side of that and he wants to be involved and like I say it's not any question of him at all, he was fine with me, but what I'm saying that's his style, that's what he wants.
“So I'm saying you've got to know that as a manager, you've got to go in there eyes open and know what you're going to manage, know the situation, which I did. My eyes were wide open.
“I went in for the badge, it's simple as that, wore my heart on my sleeve, which is unusual for me I'm a bit more measured normally.
“But I just thought ‘I've got to do it’. I had been there ten years, we'd all had our spell under Brian Clough, Stoney [Steve Stone], a bit of a legend there, sold him on for millions.
“Tony Loughlan, played two games, scored a goal, Billy Mercer was on loan there as a ‘keeper, and I was the only one who didn't get a chance to wear the actual shirt, so I thought ‘I'm going to wear that shirt, I'm going to have my chance in a different way’.
“Of course, not as a player, which I'd love to have done but didn't get that chance, but there's no regrets for me at all about it.”
Dyche also pointed out that it was under his guidance that Forest accumulated 22 of their 32 Premier League points.
“Change happens in football, I don't think there's rhyme or reason to many changes in football now, some are obvious and some are not.
“I must say he [Marinakis] was good with me, by the way, I must make that clear, you know, I think it's only fair to call it how it is, and he was good with me – not the final decision, no, not that, but generally, let me work."
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!Get all the Nottingham Forest latest via our Facebook page
At the time of Dyche's exit it was claimed players had expressed 'concerns over his coaching methods'.
“It had happened before, other managers told me, so it was obviously a regular thing that happens, they ask the players' opinions on things and players are players.
"It's a different thing now, they're a different animal, and it's not right or wrong. I'm just trying to give an opinion, I didn't say it's the right opinion, it's my opinion.
“Life's changing, football's changing, the animal you're working with is changing, rapidly changing. So you've got to realise that owners are changing.
“I knew the runners and riders before I went in there, so it was no surprise that the people who spoke out when it changes.
Article continues below
“I've been in it a long time, I know a lot of people, so you do your homework, you make your phone calls, I warned my staff, I said ‘Right, this is how this rolls, this is how this club rolls’.
“They were going ‘No, no, it'll be this and that’. I go ‘I've done my homework lads. I'm letting you know this is how this rolls’ – and unfortunately I was right. I didn't want to be right by the way, because I wanted to stay in there.”
WORLD CUP LEGENDS: The stars who lit up football’s greatest tournament - Buy the Special Edition today