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“This badge is more significant than every manager,” Sean Dyche stated at his unveiling as the club's head coach, wearing a training kit with his initials. Subsequently, amended his statement. Actually, there was one manager who was likely as big as the badge – everyone recognizes who that was.”} Then came, an impression of the legendary manager, a crack at that unique accent. “‘Young ginger, well done,’” he said, reminiscing about his three years as a trainee at the club's stadium, the days he spent wandering down the river, with Clough’s labrador, whizzing past him and his manager’s voice always within earshot.

The coach shares a anecdote of how, as a youth player, he and a couple of mates looked after Clough’s garden at his home in the area. Our weekly wage was minimal and he gave you a tenner to tend his lawn. So we actually thought: ‘This is pretty good.’ He’d prepare food for you and ensure you were well looked after. It was rather fun, not too much yard work.”

In his case, this moment has been a long time in the making. He resides in the city and has a affection for the team. In lately, he and his longstanding coach Ian Woan, who was part of the Nottingham Forest squad the previous occasion they were in Europe, in the mid-90s, have occasionally popped into the local coffee shop where Forest legends such as a former player, Colin Barrett and Garry Birtles meet every week to talk old and new tales. He will have to skip it this week to prepare for the arrival of the Portuguese side, unbeaten this campaign, in the European tournament on this week.

I can't wait to seeing the miracle men,” remarked the manager, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou to become the team's latest manager of the season. “They will give me a bit of ear-holing if I don’t do too well, so I better win some matches for them. Those guys are important to me. A lot of supporters appreciate the history of this institution. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a chance to reshape my personal history, I guess, as manager.”

The new boss oversaw Forest practice for the first time on Tuesday, a short while after Postecoglou watched a three-nil at home defeat by the London club that placed the club in the top division relegation zone. Ryan Yates, who joined aged eight, acknowledged these are just the start but he and his team have alleviated some of the negativity.

His staff includes another Forest hero in Steve Stone, as well as a coach and Tony Loughlan, who featured for the team. “I feel like a massive asset of this organization is getting the connection between the fans, squad and coach and, let’s be honest, the last few weeks we haven’t had a positive atmosphere around here,” Yates said. Dyche and his staff have introduced that sense of vitality and energy.”

Dyche emphasized he does not understand the team like the back of my hand” considering his latest encounter at Forest has been as an opposition boss, but he thinks he has a broader understanding of the place and demands. The house rules have been set. “I’ve let them wear light-colored footwear, for goodness sake,” the manager commented. I expect my ex-players caning me on messaging. But they’re forbidden to wear snoods or hats … I had to make a compromise somewhere.”

The team have lost their last four matches and not won since the opening day. The coach said the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, understood the significance of stabilising things. He faced the wealthy individual in the Europa League with his former club, when his team lost in a qualifier against the Greek side in 2018. Following the initial match he expressed frustration at Olympiakos dignitaries, including Marinakis, confronting the officials at the break in Piraeus. “We had a bit of a giggle,” he recalled.

Part of Dyche’s appeal is his reputation for building sides with strong foundations, pertinent for a team without a shutout in 20 matches. People categorize me, I’m not concerned,” he stated. “I’ve never tried to hide behind what’s effective. It’s no point of pride to me. Five years ago people were going: ‘Why do you rely on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Tight trousers, wide-leg pants, slim fits, flared jeans … my daughter hammers me for any trousers I wear. It seems on online platforms even I got some stick for my shoes walking into training [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, regardless, don’t like to mention it.”

Dyche is pleased that his formative years were at the club but believes that should not mean he or his team are evaluated in a special way. No easy path with the fans, but we are committed, that’s a point I believe can ever be doubted,” he remarked. “All I dreamt of was putting on the jersey, but I never got to do it. Stoney and Ian Woan did, Billy played as a loan goalkeeper, Tony Loughlan featured and netted a goal. I was the only one who didn’t and they keep reminding me of that.

“In my case to have that part of it is a big thing for me individually. But it doesn’t give me a special privilege, trust me. The fans expect me to win. If I’m failing, the fans are going to come at me because how fans behave and I’ve got no issue with that because that’s the reality. I was at the club as a youth and never wore the kit, the emblem. Now, currently, I’m sitting with it on me.”