'Didn't blink' - Roy Keane issues fresh take on Nottingham Forest controversy
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(Credit: Imago, Getty)
Edward Bazeley
Thu 11 September 2025 10:21, UK
Roy Keane has revealed that he wasn’t surprised by the fact that Nottingham Forest sacked Nuno Espirito Santo.
After sacking Espirito Santo, Forest appointed former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, who endured a rollercoaster of a season last term.
Intriguingly, Postecoglou’s first game in charge of the City Ground outfit sees him come up against Spurs’ rivals Arsenal on Saturday, 13 September.
Meanwhile, Espirito Santo’s final straw at Nottingham Forest was that he failed to bring on summer signing Douglas Luiz in their 3-0 defeat to West Ham United, after disagreeing with his former club’s hierarchy over recruitment.
Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media
Despite Espirito Santo’s recent disagreements with the City Ground club’s board, Forest signed James McAtee amid a busy transfer window.
But keeping hold of the England international was not enough to prevent Nottingham Forest replacing Espirito Santo with Postecoglou.
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Speaking on The Overlap on Thursday, 11 September, Keane said: “The hardest part of management is managing up.
Particularly in this case, particularly with the owner of Forest.
I didn’t blink an eyelid, it’s how it works.”
Espirito Santo has raised expectations at the City Ground by steering his former club from a previous relegation to European football.
Furthermore, Forest reached the FA Cup semi-finals last term, as the ex-Wolves boss took them close to winning silverware.
Consequently, to prove that his club were right to sack Espirito Santo, Postecoglou needs to enjoy a strong start to life in his new role.
Although the Australian won the Europa League with Tottenham last term, he was sacked by the North Londoners due to a poor Premier League season.
Nottingham Forest face a tough test on 13 September, as they travel to title challengers Arsenal, who beat Leeds United 5-0 in their last home game.
Furthermore, the Gunners will be keen to get back to winning ways after suffering a 1-0 defeat to defending Premier League champions Liverpool on 31 August.
Meanwhile, Forest begin their Europa League campaign when they head to Spain and take on Real Betis on 24 September.