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Nottingham Forest plan to hand Vitor Pereira new long-term contract
Nottingham Forest plan to show their faith in Vitor Pereira by handing the head coach a new long-term contract.
There has been speculation that another managerial change could take place at the City Ground this summer — but sources briefed on the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, insisted the club’s hierarchy and players are happy with Pereira.
The internal atmosphere is said to be extremely healthy at present, so the priority is for both parties to sit down and negotiate a fresh deal.
There is also a desire, as things stand, to keep hold of all of their key players in the summer transfer market.
Pereira was appointed Forest head coach in February on an 18-month contract and he has another year remaining but, in order to create stability, their aim is to extend his agreement.
The Portuguese, 57, succeeded Sean Dyche and was Forest’s fourth permanent boss of the season following the departures of Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou.
They were three points above the relegation zone when he was installed and he subsequently steered his side to Premier League safety, with survival confirmed on Sunday following West Ham United’s defeat by Arsenal.
That result left Forest seven points clear of the drop zone with two matches remaining.
‘A sense of security and stability that Forest have been lacking’
Analysis from Nottingham Forest correspondent Paul Taylor
Vitor Pereira was the fourth man to take charge of Forest this season — and arguably the most important.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager was appointed because of some of the attributes he shared with Nuno Espirito Santo — the man who started the season in charge.
And he has fulfilled all of those, bringing together a squad that had been drained of confidence during the brief tenures of Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche, inspiring a sense of unity and belief.
Pereira is a popular figure in the dressing room, having instilled an approach that the players quickly bought into — one that has seen them pull clear of the threat of relegation with two games to spare, while also reaching the semi-final of the Europa League.
The 4-0 defeat in the second leg at Aston Villa was one of few notable lows of his tenure, which has otherwise seen him bring a sense of calm amid the chaos.
They head to Manchester United on Sunday looking to build on an eight-match unbeaten run in the top flight.
Pereira himself spoke of his desire to prepare the squad for next season; to continue the work he has done already, and to keep his squad together as much as possible.
Whether that will be possible with prize asset Elliot Anderson remains to be seen, with Manchester City and Manchester United leading the interest in the midfielder.
But if Forest can keep the majority of their squad in place and agree fresh terms with Pereira, it would bring an additional sense of security and stability at the end of a season in which both have been lacking.