More big January news broke on Friday when it was announced that Nottingham Forest and manager Aitor Karanka would be parting ways. 

The Spaniard took over just over a year ago, arriving on January 8, 2018, after the sacking of Mark Warburton, but has today asked to leave his role as Forest boss after days of talks with the Forest owners.

The Reds currently sit in seventh place, just four points behind arch-rivals Derby County who occupy the final play-off spot, but have won just once in their last six.

It is believed that the Karanka and the board did not see eye-to-eye on a number of issues and the hunt will now commence to find his replacement.

But what will the mood be like within the Forest camp? Karanka is a popular manager by all accounts and there will some despondent bodies in the dressing room.

Some, however, will be a tad more jubilant.

Here are three Forest players who will surely be buzzing with today's announcement...

Liam Bridcutt 

The midfielder has impressed when played this season but for some reason was simply never fancied by Karanka as good enough to start.

Bridcutt will surely be buzzing with the chance to impress a new manager and work his way back into the Forest starting XI.

Ben Watson 

A regular at the start of the season, Watson has fallen well down the pecking order since the arrival of Claudio Yacob at the club.

Watson has a lot of experience, however, and he will be hoping that is something the new manager values more than Karanka.

Gil Dias 

Perhaps not given as much of a chance to impress as his compatriot Carvalho, Dias has been limited to an impact substitute role under Karanka, starting just five matches since the start of September.

A new manager may be able to get the best out of him and he will be able to return to Monaco in the summer having impressed their coaches.