Nottingham Forest have had a list of candidates to replace Chris Hughton drawn up for a number of weeks, The Athletic report. 

On the back of last night's 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the Championship - Forest's sixth defeat in seven league fixtures this season - Hughton has been sacked, with the club now on the lookout for another new manager.

The route Forest take from here remains unclear. However, The Athletic have noted that Forest have been working on a list of candidates to replace Hughton for a number of weeks now, with the club's preference to appoint a 'modern thinker' and someone to elevate the young talent within the squad.

They state: "The club have had a short-list of targets drawn up for several weeks now, amid their struggles.

"Forest want to appoint a manager who is more of a modern thinker than Hughton. More importantly, they want to recruit somebody with a background of working with young players."

 

 

In the meantime, Steven Reid will take over first-team duties, as Forest aim to pick themselves up off the canvas and earn a first win of the Championship season.

On Saturday, they face Huddersfield Town at the John Smith's Stadium. Carlos Corberan's side have won four of their last five fixtures and currently occupy a place in the play-off places at this early stage of the campaign.

The Verdict 

Results haven't been good for Hughton at Forest. That's not just in terms of this season, but also the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

With that in mind, it isn't really a surprise to hear that Forest have been drawing up a list of candidates for a while now.

Dane Murphy's arrival at the club will also have been a driving factor behind that. A search for a modern thinker that's good with working with young players feels like it's got his influence all over it.

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