“You are getting sacked in the morning” is more of a prophecy than a chant.
Postecoglou’s Forest tenure is so miserable that it really puts the club’s time in League One to shame. Seven matches, no victories, fifteen goals against, and a fanbase that is already halfway through the five stages of grief.
Nevertheless, it is still early days for Ange, so he is not the worst Forest manager. Not at all. Here are five who went beyond mediocre to make losing feel like a masterpiece, and three with little luck, who almost ended up in the same shameful place.
1. Alex McLeish: The 40-Day Manager
Timeline: Dec 2012 – Feb 2013
Stat: 7 games, 1 win, 3 losses, 3 draws
Heritage: After 40 days, he left by mutual consent. That was not a term of office, it was a probationary period.
McLeish came with top-flight experience and left with a bewildered team, a transfer deal for George Boyd that had collapsed (because of an eye test!), and a fanbase questioning whether they had seen the whole thing. His reign was so short that Forest didn’t even stop to print his name on mugs.
2. Steve McClaren: The Umbrella Man
Timeline: June 2011 – Oct 2011
Stat: 13 games, 3 wins, 7 losses
Heritage: After a 3-1 home defeat to Birmingham, he resigned. Supporters were still trying to figure out his tactics when he left.
McClaren’s Forest line-up played as if they were allergic to possession. His signings were lackluster, his media conferences puzzling, and his strategies somewhere between “vague” and “experimental jazz.” The amount of time he was here was less than the shelf life of a loaf of bread.
3. Chris Hughton: The Sleep Paralysis Demon
Timeline: Oct 2020 – Sept 2021
Stat: 53 games, 14 wins, 24 losses
Legacy: Managed the worst Forest start in 108 years. That’s not a statistic—it’s a scream for help.
Hughton’s game was so defensive that Forest fans started bringing pillows to matches. His last streak? One point from seven games. His interviews were courteous, the tactics were cautious, and his influence was like watching paint dry—then realizing it’s combustible.
4. Gary Megson: The League One Specialist
Timeline: Jan 2005 – Feb 2006
Record: 13 months, 1 relegation, 1 dressing room mutiny
Legacy: Dropped Forest to the club’s lowest-ever finish: 13th in League One.
Megson’s time was a tutorial on how to push away players, fans, and even logic. The “Megson Out” banners were almost part of the stadium décor. His football dogma? “Kick it, hope, repeat.” Forest were only four points above the drop zone when he was finally sent off.
5. Philippe Montanier: The Tactical Mime
Timeline: June 2016 – Jan 2017
Record: 30 games, 9 wins, 14 losses
Legacy: Only two shutouts in 30 matches. That isn’t defending—it is performance art.
Montanier was a connoisseur of defense on paper and departure with a squad that was as defenseless as a cardboard box. His game plan was so complex that the fans asked for translations. Goals were given away at Forest as if they were party favors. He was dismissed after gaining only two points from 21.
Honorable Mentions
Stuart Pearce (2014–2015)
He had an excellent start, then he went downhill losing 10 of 14. Fired before the fans could finish their “Psycho Returns” signs.
Ron Atkinson (1999)
On his first day, he entered the wrong dugout. Ended up last in the Premier League. Turmoil in an iconic way.
Dave Mackay (1972–1973)
Turned Forest into a 20th place team of the Second Division. His tactics were so old that they came with a ration book.
So, Is Ange Worse?
Not yet. However, he is near the end of his rope. A defeat at Chelsea and Porto would make this list need updating. Until that moment, Forest fans have the pleasure of knowing that they are not the only ones going through this.
Because at Nottingham Forest, defeat is not merely an outcome. It is a heritage.
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