Nottingham Forest: Nuno Espirito Santo’s future as manager is uncertain

Nuno Espirito Santo’s future as Nottingham Forest manager is uncertain after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Nuno’s position is not completely safe despite last season’s achievement of qualifying for Europe and the opening-day win over Brentford on Sunday.

The uncertainty, according to sources, has now stretched to the playing squad who are said to be aware of the situation.

In a news conference on Friday, the 51-year-old said his relationship with Marinakis “has changed” and they are “not as close”.

“I always had a very good relationship with the owner – last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis,” Nuno said.

“This season it is not so well [between us] but I always believe that dialogue is important because my concern is the squad and the season we have ahead of us. Our relationship has changed and we are not as close.”

When asked if it was good his relationship with Evangelos Marinakis had changed, Nuno said: “No, it is not good. I think everybody at the club should be together but this not the reality.”

Forest have been active in the transfer market this summer, signing seven players – though they did sell winger Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for £55m.

But before last Sunday’s 3-1 win over Brentford, Nuno outlined his transfer concerns.

“We have doubts, who is going to be [here], when are they [new signings] going to come? All these things create doubts,” he said.

“Not only me but in the club. What we want is game-by-game to have as many options as possible. Europe will come after, and for sure it will be better, but for now until that happens it is a major concern.

“The owner is aware, the club is aware, everyone is aware. Everybody knows the reality. This is a lost chance that we had as a group to do it.”

There have been suggestions that Nuno has not been fully involved in the club’s recruitment this summer, which could be a factor in the deterioration of his relationship with Marinakis.