STEVE COOPER has signed a shock new three-year contract as Nottingham Forest manager – after five straight defeats.
That is despite the Welshman being among the favourites to be the next Premier League boss to be sacked.
Cooper, 42, took over from Chris Hughton last September and led Forest from relegation candidates to Championship play-off winners last season in a superb turnaround – then held initial talks over a contract extension in the summer.
But after bringing in 23 new players in the transfer window, he has so far struggled to get the East Midlanders firing.
Forest have won just once this term – against West Ham – and were thumped 4-0 by local rivals Leicester on Monday night.
That result saw the Foxes leapfrog the newly-promoted side and put them bottom of the Premier League table following losses to Tottenham, Manchester City, Bournemouth and Fulham.
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New York Red Bulls head coach Gerhard Struber, Rafa Benitez and Sean Dyche were being eyed as possible replacements should Forest wield the axe.
But after crunch talks this week, the club’s top brass – including owner Evangelos Marinakis – have decided Cooper is the man to keep leading the team.
And therefore the ex-England Under-17s boss has put pen to paper on a fresh deal until 2025 – also ending any speculation of him moving clubs with his £1.5million release clause.
Forest, who appointed a sporting director on Wednesday, are keen to switch the attention back to matters on the field despite the shaky run of results.
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The club said: “It is now important that our focus is solely on football.
“As a group we are all concentrated and will do everything we can to help the team move up the league table and once again demonstrate our qualities that led us to the Premier League.”
Cooper and his men face another crunch clash on Monday night as they host fellow strugglers Aston Villa.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
