Clough says no to Forest return

LONDON: Nigel Clough has rejected the chance to become the new manager of ailing twotime European Cup winners Nottingham Forest and evoke memories of their glory days under his father Brian, it was announced Monday.

Instead Clough has decided to remain as manager of Forest’s fellow Midlands side Burton Albion, who also play in the second-tier Championship.

The late Brian Clough oversaw one of the most extraordinary feats in English football by taking Forest out of the second-tier and to a league Championship and two European Cups, in 1979 and 1980, all in the space of four years.

It was at Forest where the now 50year- old former England forward Nigel launched his playing career, when his father was still the manager, and he went on to make more than 300 appearances for the City Ground club.

Forest are two points and a place above Burton, with both clubs battling to avoid the drop.

Yet for al l his emotional attachment to Forest, Clough has a good relationship with the Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson, who gave him his first start in management in 1998.

By contrast Fawaz Al Hasawi, the Kuwaiti businessman who is the owner and chairman of Forest, is now looking for his eighth permanent manager since he took over in 2012 after Philippe Montanier was sacked this month. — AFP