It’s the new Forest BIRTLES BACKS O’NEILL TO BE A HUGE HIT

GARRY BIRTLES says Martin O’Neill will unite Nottingham Forest and lift the club to a higher level.

The pair started the 1980 European Cup Final win over Hamburg together and Birtles reckons this is the perfect time for his old pal to take over from Aitor Karanka.

O’Neill started out at Forest 48 years ago and Birtles (below) says his return has put smiles back on the faces of the City Ground faithful.

He said: “It is a perfect time for Martin to come in as Forest is not broken, it just needs a bit of TLC.

“He’ll unite the club as well as the dressing room.

“His experience will shine through. He’s measured and intelligent.

“Forest are in a great position. They can still get into the play-offs.

“They should have won at least four matches that they have not seen over the line – and had they done so they would be second.

“So far this season it’s been a case of ‘nearly’.

“I think Martin will take them to another level.”

The fact O’Neill played his part in Forest’s rise during the 1970s and 1980s is a huge plus for the new City Ground boss according to Birtles. He added: “Martin was here at the start.

“He was one of the six who were already at the club when the juggernaut that was Brian Clough and Peter Taylor came in and won two European Cups.

“Martin knows what it means as he came through the bad times and the good.

“He knows what it’s all about. Honestly, I feel lifted by it all. It is Martin’s lifelong ambition. I think there have been times before when he was asked and it didn’t feel right. “He has won almost everything the game can give you – apart from the World Cup and he’s played in that – and that drive is still there.

“A promotion here may be one of his biggest achievements.

“I’m delighted it has happened and I hope Martin can put smiles on people’s faces again and put pressure on those teams above us.”

Aware he is following in the footsteps of a legend like Clough, O’Neill says he will leave Forest a contented man at the end of his tenure if he can create a new corridor of heroes at the City Ground.

He arrives with the aim of adding to those who brought fame to the East Midlands outfit almost four decades ago.

Forest’s new owners have spruced up the area leading to the boardroom with memorabilia and pictures from the team that won back-to-back crowns in Europe.

And O’Neill said he would consider it a job well done if he could leave his own stamp on the place, as his managerial hero Clough did.

He said: “It would be nice if that happened – if some of those lads had a corridor to themselves. It would be great. You have to be successful to do that. That’s the point.

“These players and managers are up on the wall for a reason.

“A Championship, two European Cups, League

HIGH HOPES: O’Neill wants to make an impact at the City Ground

Cups – for this team to get one of its own would be something.

“There are really good players who have been here. Stuart Pearce and Des Walker – they could have taken a place in our team but they have not been in a corridor of success in that sense – but they are as good as anyone to have played for Forest.

“And if this set could create their own slice of history it would be great.”