The current campaign under Sabri Lamouchi is regarded as a modern success for Nottingham Forest; however, how different could things have been under a different manager?
When Nottingham Forest Nearly Appointed Neil Warnock and Dean Smith
What Could Life Under Dean Smith Have Been Like?
According to Robin Chipperfield, the Reds came very close to appointing Dean Smith and Neil Warnock.
The former BBC Nottingham correspondent said in his most recent blog: “Warnock was very, very close” to be appointed.
Similarly “one very well respected figure at Forest had Smith on his radar” as the club sought a post-Billy Davies appointment.
Both names have since gone on to experience great things in the game.
Current Aston Villa boss Smith was being noticed by Forest while he was at Walsall; according to Chipperfield, the Reds even called upon Matt Paterson, who been at the Bescot Stadium until joining Forest in 2013, to discuss what his former boss was like.
Having had various figures do background on Smith, several individuals were reportedly surprised when then-owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi rejected their suggestion.
It is difficult to look back on that time with hindsight and wonder ‘what if’ given Smith’s successes with Brentford and Villa since.
Chipperfield: Warnock Deal Was ‘Very Very Close’
Regarding a move for Warnock, Chipperfield said: “It may have been an opportunity missed with Warnock too.
“He may not have been everybody’s cup of tea, but he’d have surely mounted a promotion challenge, given his record in the game.
“But it was another shambolic time at the club, I’m afraid, and the appointment never happened despite lengthy discussions.”
According to the former BBC journalist, the club held several meetings with the owner.
Warnock was so close to becoming Forest boss that he even signed Lee Peltier on-loan from Leeds United.
The club had announced the deal but, after the owner tweeted no deal had been completed, the story soon became a shambles.
Warnock eventually withdrew himself from the frame and eventually, Gary Brazil took charge for the remainder of the campaign.
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