Cooper set for ‘crisis talks’ after Leeds loss; Premier League duo ‘interested’ if Forest sack him

Steve Cooper will reportedly hold ‘crisis talks’ with Nottingham Forest after Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat against relegation rivals Leeds United.

Forest dropped down to 17th as Leeds jumped up to 13th after the result at Elland Road.

This means the City Ground club are without a win since they beat Leeds in the return fixture on February 5.

Pressure is building on Cooper given his side’s woeful form. A report last week claimed defeat at home to Wolves could be fatal.

Forest drew 1-1 which was obviously enough to keep the Welshman in a job, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will be in charge for Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.

Asked if he is worried about his position after the Leeds loss, Cooper said: “I respect the question and I understand it 100 per cent, but I’m not that guy that thinks like that.

“I always think of the greater good of the club, so any sort of worry, disappointment, frustration I’m feeling right now is the fact that Forest have lost a game they could have done so much better in.

“That’s just the way I’m wired. I’ve trained myself just to focus on the stuff I can control and work as hard as I can every single day, believe in my work and stay true to it. That’s just where I’m at.”

Cooper, who has retained the support of the majority of Forest fans up to now, said he still believed in himself and his players and confirmed there had been no contact from the club’s board.

“I’ll forever be grateful to the supporters and that’s why winning games feels so joyous and losing games hurts,” he added.

“Because they’re so good with me, when we let them down like we did tonight, it’s painful.

“That’s how I think, trying to do what’s right and good for the club. I just don’t think about myself.

“The more support I get, the more determined and paranoid I get about not letting them down.”

According to 90min, Cooper will sit down with the Forest hierarchy after his side edged closer to the relegation zone.

The report claims that the Reds ‘are considering a managerial change’ and the ‘imminent talks’ could see Cooper relieved of his duties before facing in-form Villa this weekend.

Crystal Palace and Leicester are both ‘interested’ in appointing Cooper should he lose his job at the City Ground.

Roy Hodgson is in charge at Selhurst Park until the end of the season after he replaced Patrick Vieira – who replaced him in 2021.

Leicester dismissed Brendan Rodgers on Sunday after the late defeat at Palace with first-team coaches Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell in caretaker charge.

after they approached the former Chelsea head coach.