Espirito Santo expects Forest to fire him, says owner giving him cold shoulder

22.8.2025
Nuno Espirito Santo has cast serious doubt over his own future at Nottingham Forest by confessing: “There is no smoke without fire.”
The head coach, who last week declared his squad required bolstering in all but one position, has revealed his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis has deteriorated and they are no longer in regular contact, after reports emerged that Forest were considering sacking him just days into the new Premier League season.
The Portuguese manager penned a fresh three-year contract in June after steering Forest into Europe for the first time in three decades. But in an extraordinary press conference on Friday afternoon he revealed: “Look, I always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season was very, very, very close, almost daily basis.
“This season, not so well, but I always believe that dialogue and what you what you say or your opinion, is always valid, because my concern is the squad and the season that we have ahead of us, but our relationship has changed.”
When pressed on what has triggered the shift in their relationship, Nuno continued to lay bare the situation, reports the Mirror. He said: “I don’t know exactly, but I’m being honest with you, I cannot say that is the same, because it’s not the same. The reason behind it, I don’t know.
“What I said last week or two weeks ago, was my concern and why I was worried. Because my job is always to try anticipate what’s coming ahead of us, and that’s what I said, what I said with respect.
“But the reality is that (the relationship) is not what it used to be, what it used to be, what it used to be was a good, respectful relationship, but was more based on trust and sharing opinions, and now it’s not so good.”
When pressed about social media rumours suggesting his imminent sacking, Nuno replied: “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, so I know how things work.
“But I’m here to do my job. I understand, because I’m worried. I’m the first one to be worried. I’m the first one to be concerned.”