Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has ended speculation about the future of manager Steve Cooper by publicly backing the 43-year-old.
A 2-1 defeat at Leeds United on Tuesday night cast doubt over the Welshman’s status at the City Ground, with a fourth straight Premier League loss on the road leaving Forest above the bottom three on goal difference alone.
But a statement from Marinakis on Wednesday read: “No one denies that our club is in a difficult position in the Premier League, but we wish to end the speculation and the false and disruptive reporting in the media to confirm that Steve Cooper remains our manager at Nottingham Forest.
“We have all been disappointed with recent performances and it is very clear that a lot of hard work needs to be done to address this urgently. Results and performances must improve immediately.
“Now is the time for everyone connected with our club, from us as owners, to the board, our supporters, backroom staff, coaches and players – to come together and fight to secure our status in the Premier League.
“There can be no time for distractions, rumours and speculation. There is only time for hard work, determination, a commitment from Steve and the players to getting the results we need and, of course, the continued magnificent support of the fans of Nottingham Forest.”
A report on Wednesday claimed Cooper was set to hold ‘crisis talks’ with the club’s hierarchy after Tuesday’s defeat at relegation rivals Leeds.
Following the 2-1 loss, Cooper was asked if he is worried for his future. He 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 added: “I’ll forever be grateful to the supporters and that’s why winning games feels so joyous and losing games hurts.
“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.
