NO EXCUSES FOR PLAYERS – FREEDMAN

DOUGIE Freedman has laughed off fears the managerial instability at Nottingham Forest has unsettled his players – and says he is ready for the challenge of life in the City Ground hot-seat.

The 40-year-old became the seventh new Forest manager in two-and-a-half years when he took over last week after Stuart Pearce’s sacking.

But the ex-Forest striker is convinced his players have not been unnerved by the constant changes.

“I am not too sure that play- ers get too fussed about that these days. Players only tend to worry about two or three things,” he said.

“They worry about whether they are playing on Saturday, about whether they are getting paid at the end of the month and whether the manager likes them.

“They will soon know if I like them, they will soon know if they are playing, because I will tell them that – and they will get paid.

“I think the club have a good bunch of players, we just need to get them to work a little bit; to focus on what is needed.

“We need to make sure they are committed to the team and do not have any hidden agendas or issues.”

Forest face winnable games against bottom two Wigan and Blackpool this week, but the ex-Palace and Bolton boss said: “This is the hardest league in the world – an opinion that is backed up by many top coaches.

“Win five games and you will be around the top six, but lose five and you will be down the bottom. It is about consistency and momentum.”