Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo faces an uncertain future after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis, talkSPORT understands.
Reports emerged on Friday claiming there is increased tension between Espirito Santo and Marinakis.
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The Reds were said to be looking at alternative managers despite finishing seventh in the Premier League last season and winning their opening match of the 2025/26 campaign 3-1 against Brentford.
Club sources have dismissed claims the club are considering sacking Espirito Santo imminently.
However, the Portuguese boss has now admitted his relationship with Marinakis is strained.
“I always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis,” Espirito Santo said.
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“This season it is not so well [between us] but I always believe that dialogue is important because my concern is the squad and the season we have ahead of us.
“Our relationship has changed and we are not as close.”
When pressed to give his feelings on the situation, Espirito Santo added: “No, it is not good. I think everybody at the club should be together but this not the reality.”
“I don’t know exactly but I’m being honest with you, it is not the same.
“The reason behind it I do not know. What I said last week or two weeks ago was my concern and why I was worried about where we were going [as a club].”
“What I said, I said it with respect. The reality is that the relationship is not what is use to be.
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“It was a respectful relationship based on trust and sharing opinions but now it is not so good.”
What did Espirito Santo say last week?
The Forest boss was likely referring to a recent interview before the season began, when he called out the club’s lack of ‘options’.
He said: “We are very far – very, very far – from where we should be.
“I am concerned, we are short on options, having solutions the game might need is a major concern.”
The Reds have spent more than £100million this summer, bringing in eight new signings after successfully replacing Crystal Palace in this season’s Europa League.
That includes big-money moves for Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee, while Anthony Elanga has been the most notable departure in a £55m move to Newcastle.
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Sources have told talkSPORT that Nuno has not played an active role in the club’s recruitment this summer.
Behind-the-scenes, talkSPORT has been told Nuno has expressed frustration at deals being done behind his back.
Marinakis directly negotiated for Botafogo striker Igor Jesus, with Nuno in the dark until the deal became advanced.
Who could replace Nuno?
Marinakis is known to be an admirer of Ange Postecoglou’s style, with the former boss a free agent following his sacking by Tottenham Hotspur.
The pair were pictured together in Greece recently at an awards ceremony.
Those close to Postecoglou deny any approach to date, but talkSPORT has learned Mariankis and Postecoglou are in direct contact, even if no offer has been discussed.
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What else has been said about Espirito Santo’s future?
Nobody would have had the Forest boss down as the first potential casualty of the 2025/26 season.
Espirito Santo was nominated for Premier League Manager of the Season after the Reds became the top-flight’s surprise package, with many expecting them to be relegation candidates before the campaign began.
Reacting to the surprise reports surrounding the ex-Wolves and Tottenham manager’s future, Watford legend Troy Deeney warned Forest this would be a very unpopular decision.
“That would not go down will with the Forest fanbase,” said talkSPORT host Sam Matterface, and Deeney replied: “And the players, it wouldn’t at all.
“You’ve been very, very successful, you’ve won the first game of the season, everyone’s on a high.
“Even these rumours coming out now start to be like… ‘What’s going on?’
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“I think some of the senior players like your Chris Woods would certainly be in a position where he can say to the gaffer walking off the training pitch today, ‘Any truth in this, what’s happening?’
“If the gaffer says, ‘Yeah, maybe’, or something, then that could be a real difficult situation.”
