Steve Cooper hoping to bring figure with links to Frank Lampard and Pep Guardiola to Nottingham Forest | OneFootball

Steve Cooper is hoping to add Steve Rands, who has worked with the likes of Frank Lampard, Pep Guardiola, Manuel Pellegrini, and Roberto Mancini, to his Nottingham Forest staff ahead of his impending appointment, according to The Telegraph’s John Percy.

Chris Hughton was sacked on Thursday after a dreadful start to the season, with Forest bottom of the Championship on just one point after seven games, and it seems the East Midlands club have moved fast to find his replacement.

Cooper quickly emerged as their primary target, despite links to Chris Wilder, and Percy reported yesterday that the 41-year-old is close to being appointed as the new Reds boss.

It is understood that the former England youth coach is hoping to add Rands to his coaching staff if he takes charge at the City Ground.

The 36-year-old was an analyst at Swansea City during Cooper’s tenure and has also worked with Lampard at Derby, as well as with Guardiola, Pelligrini and Mancini at Manchester City.

Forest are said to have agreed a £1.2 million compensation package with Swansea City, the club the Welshman left in the summer, but caretaker boss Steven Reid still looks likely to be in charge for the game against Huddersfield Town today.

24 questions about some of Nottingham Forest’s best ever forwards – Can get 100% correct?

1 of 24

Robert Earnshaw joined the club from which side?

West Brom

Norwich City

Derby

Cardiff

The Verdict

This is an exciting update from a Forest perspective.

You only have to look at some of the coaches he’s worked with in the past to appreciate his pedigree, while he’s clearly someone that Cooper trusts after the two were together at Swansea.

Bringing his own people is going to be important for the 41-year-old if he is indeed appointed as Hughton’s permanent replacement, though understanding the historic club’s culture will be vital as well.

The Reds are in a difficult position at the moment but they’ve got a strong squad on paper and we’ve seen that the ownership are willing to back the manager, so Cooper should get plenty of support in the transfer market.

It could be a match made in heaven but only time will tell.