Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
18 MONTHS OR BUST
O’neill sets himself a deadline to get Forest in Premier League.. and will walk away if he misses it
MARTIN O’NEILL knows the clock is already ticking on his Nottingham Forest stay having been tasked with promotion in ‘ultraquick time’.
The former Republic of Ireland boss was yesterday unveiled as Aitor Karanka’s successor on an 18-month deal.
O’neill, 66, has wasted little time getting back in the hot-seat after the FAI ended his five-year stay with Ireland in November.
But he appreciates that time is of the essence after Forest’s Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis listed his no-nonsense demands.
O’neill said: “The target is to get promotion. In terms of potential, support base and history, this club should be in the Premier League and if I can’t do that then I’ll hand over to someone else.”
O’neill won a league title and two European Cups as a Forest player but understands that will count for little in trying to achieve his goal.
“Whether that puts more pressure on me, time will tell. But we want to try and get up,” he said.
“There are a number of clubs in this division who feel they should be in the Premier League. We want to do it in ultraquick time if possible and I’ll throw everything into it.”
Ahead of his first game in charge on Saturday against Bristol City, Forest sit ninth – just four points off the playoffs.
And asked if promotion was realistic this season, O’neill said: “I wouldn’t rule things out at all. The players are up for the challenge.
“I don’t think there’s any other reason to be here. We want to drive on. We’ve slipped a little in recent times but hopefully we’re able to rectify that.
“The obvious hurdle is you have to get to know the players pretty quick. This is not pre-season where you can take four or five weeks to sort stuff out.
“Managers are getting less and less time these days so you have to get going and I’ve retained a great enthusiasm for football itself.
“I’m well aware of the pitfalls of management but as I was told by a good friend, if you don’t feel like doing it then don’t do it.”
O’neill had a number of chances to manage Forest in the past but never felt it was the right time.
“I have this now and you may not get the chance again, so it’s about making the most of it.”