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“This badge is more significant than any manager,” Sean Dyche stated at his introduction as the club's head coach, sporting a training kit with his initials. He then, corrected himself. Actually, there was a single manager who was probably as important as the crest – we all know who that was.”} Following that, an impression of Brian Clough, a crack at that distinctive accent. Lad, well done,’” he said, reminiscing about his time as a trainee at the club's stadium, the period he spent wandering down the Trent, with Del Boy, whizzing past him and his boss's voice always within earshot.

The coach shares a anecdote of how, as a youth player, he and a couple of mates looked after the manager's yard at his home in Quarndon. Our weekly wage was minimal and he gave you a tenner to do his garden. So we really thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d prepare food for you and make sure you were cared for. It was quite fun, not too much yard work.”

In his case, the appointment has been a years in the making. He lives in the area and has a affection for the team. In lately, he and his longstanding assistant his deputy, who was a member of the Forest side the previous occasion they were in Europe, in the mid-90s, have occasionally popped into the local coffee shop where Forest legends such as Frank Clark, another stalwart and Garry Birtles gather every Thursday to discuss stories from past and present. He will have to give it a miss this time to prepare for the visit of Porto, undefeated this season, in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the club legends,” remarked the manager, who replaced Ange Postecoglou to become Forest’s third head coach of the term. I'll get an earful if I fail to deliver, so I must secure some games for them. Those guys mean a lot to me. A lot of Forest fans recognise the legacy of this institution. I have personal ties and now I’ve got a chance to reinvent my personal history, I suppose, as coach.”

The new boss oversaw Forest training for the first time on Tuesday, a short while after Postecoglou oversaw a three-nil at home loss by Chelsea that placed the side in the Premier League drop zone. the club captain, who joined aged eight, acknowledged these are early days but Dyche and his staff have alleviated some of the gloom.

His backroom team features one more Forest hero in a former player, as well as Billy Mercer and another staff member, both of whom featured for the club. In my view a huge asset of this club is getting the connection between the supporters, squad and coach and, frankly, the last few weeks we haven’t had a good feeling around here,” the captain stated. Dyche and his staff have introduced that sense of vitality and enthusiasm.”

Dyche made clear he doesn't “know the club like the back of my hand” considering his most recent experience at Forest has been as an opposition boss, but he thinks he has a wider grasp of the environment and expectations. The house rules have been laid. I allowed the players wear light-colored footwear, for heaven's sake,” the manager commented. I expect my former teammates caning me on messaging. But they’re forbidden to wear neck warmers or headgear … I had to do a compromise somewhere.”

Forest have lost their last four fixtures and not won since the opening day. The coach said the proprietor, the Greek businessman, recognised the importance of stabilising the situation. He encountered the wealthy individual in the Europa League with his former club, when his side lost in a playoff against the Greek side in recent years. Following the initial match he voiced frustration at club officials, among them Marinakis, approaching the referees at the break in the stadium. “We had a bit of a giggle,” he said.

One aspect of Dyche’s attraction is his image for constructing teams with solid foundations, relevant for a team without a clean sheet in 20 matches. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not concerned,” he said. “I’ve never tried to hide behind what’s effective. It’s no point of pride to me. Five years ago people were saying: ‘Why do you rely on set pieces?’ Now they’re in vogue. Tight trousers, wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, flared jeans … my daughter criticizes me for any jeans I wear. Apparently on social media even I got some stick for my shoes walking into training [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, anyway, don’t like to bring it up it.”

The manager is proud that his early career were at the club but thinks that should not mean he or his staff are judged in a special way. “There’s no shortcut with the supporters, but we are committed, that’s a point I believe can ever be questioned,” he remarked. My only aspiration was wearing the jersey, but I didn't manage to achieve it. Steve Stone and Woany succeeded, Billy did as a temporary goalkeeper, Tony wore it and netted a strike. I was the sole person who didn’t and they keep reminding me of that.

“For me to have that connection of it is a significant matter for me individually. But it doesn't grant me a divine right, trust me. The fans want me to succeed. If I’m failing, the fans are going to criticize me because that’s the way fans behave and I’ve got no issue with that because that’s the reality. I was here as a youth and didn't get to wear the kit, the badge. Well, currently, I’m sitting with it on me.”