Former Nottingham Forest centre back Joel Lynch has reflected on his four year spell with the Reds, whilst also discussing the various managers that he played under during his time at the City Ground, during an exclusive interview with Football League World

The defender originally arrived at Forest initially on loan back in September 2008 after he handed in a transfer request at his boyhood club Brighton and Hove Albion, with Colin Calderwood being the man to secure the player's services.

Lynch would then go on to play under various managers during his spell with the Reds, with the likes of Billy Davies, Steve McClaren and Steve Cotterill all coming and going as the now 33-year-old racked up 90 appearances during his career in the Midlands.

FLW journalist Chris Thorpe had the chance to catch up with the free agent last week, with Lynch recalling his sometimes turbulent spell at the City Ground under various managers during their interview.

“Each one (manager) was completely different, I guess.

“Billy Davies was so strict and looking back now as an older player, I understand why he was the way he was in order to get results; he got the best out of what was a really strong squad back then at Forest.

“We should have probably got promotion with the team we had but looking back I realise now why he was like that.

“I also had the likes of (Steve) McClaren who was obviously a brilliant coach but to be honest I think the one that got the best out of me as a player was Steve Cotterill.

“He’d have a go at me all the time and pushed me to my limits and in turn that got the best out of me as it made me play angry.

“And in my last season at Forest I did pretty well, I got Supporters’ Player of the Year, so I had a good year.

“He was always pushing me, and it made me play in a more determined way.

“It is hard when a club goes through a lot of managers, for example when I went to Sunderland, I was really excited to work with Jack Ross who signed me and then he got fired after three games.

“And then another manager came in and I didn’t get on that well with him.”