After handing Awoniyi season debut, Postecoglou relieved of his duties as Nottingham Forest coach

Nottingham Forest have confirmed, via an official statement on their website, that Australian manager Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect, following a run of poor results and uninspiring performances.

The 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday afternoon, witnessed by club owner Evangelos Marinakis from the stands, proved to be the final straw. 

Marinakis acted swiftly, dismissing Postecoglou just eighteen minutes after referee Chris Kavanagh blew the final whistle at the City Ground. 

Postecoglou handed Taiwo Awoniyi his first appearance of the season during the loss but substituted the Nigerian striker at half-time, with the forward still short of full match fitness. 

Fellow Nigeria international Ola Aina remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained on Super Eagles duty last month, and did not make a single appearance under the Australian tactician. 

Appointed in early September as the successor to the sacked Nuno Espírito Santo, Postecoglou endured a difficult spell at the City Ground. 

He lost his opening two games against Arsenal and Swansea City, before managing back-to-back draws with Burnley and Real Betis, a brief upturn that soon faded.

Defeats to Sunderland, FC Midtjylland, Newcastle United and Chelsea followed, leaving his final record at eight matches without a win — six losses and two draws.

Postecoglou spent just 39 days in charge of Nottingham Forest, the shortest managerial reign of any permanent Premier League manager to leave a club during the season, according to football statisticians Opta. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: nottinghamforest.co.uk

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