Neil Harris delivers Steve Cooper verdict as he fills Nottingham Forest vacancy | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest have now confirmed the appointment of Steve Cooper as their new manager ahead of their weekend Championship fixture with Millwall.

The Reds dispensed of Chris Hughton’s services last week after a midweek loss against Middlesbrough, and under the caretaker management of Steven Reid they managed to pick up their first league win of the season against Huddersfield Town.

Reid won’t be getting the chance to take another game though as Cooper, who was Forest’s number one target all along, has taken the reins.

According to Daniel Taylor of The Athletic this morning, Cooper has already taken training with the club alongside his coaching staff of Alan Tate and Steve Rands before the official announcement was made.

Quiz: Are these 22 Nottingham Forest stats real or fake?

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Nottingham Forest scored 38 league goals last season

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Cooper comes into the club having reached the Championship play-offs with Swansea in both of his seasons in charge and he will be looking to achieve a similar feat again, this time with Forest.

And former Cardiff and Millwall boss Neil Harris – once a Forest player himself – believes Cooper is the right man to turn things around at the City Ground.

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“Coops is a really good guy, a really nice fella and really well-respected in the changing room,” Harris told Sky Sports.

“He comes across very well in the press – I saw Steven Reid took the team on Saturday and played a 3-4-3 formation and I expect Coops to play something similar to that.

|It may be something slightly different to what Chris Hughton has done and perhaps he’ll give people an opportunity who have been on the fringes or not had an opportunity this season a chance.

“The last two seasons at Swansea he got them into the play-off positions and it’s a great achievement for him so I think it’s a good fit.”

The Verdict

You have to say that on the strength of what he’s done for Swansea in the last few years, Cooper is a fantastic appointment for Forest.

Some fans would say his football is quite boring to watch at times, however it was effective at the Liberty Stadium and Forest fans will be delighted if he can deliver the same kind of results at the City Ground.

It is Cooper’s record with young players that has probably delivered him the job, with the hierarchy hoping he can get the best out of the likes of Brennan Johnson and Alex Mighten.

His track record shows that he should be able to do just that but attentions must quickly turn towards league action as he has a tough opening period starting with a visit of Millwall to Trentside on Saturday.