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The emblem is bigger than any manager,” Sean Dyche stated at his unveiling as Nottingham Forest’s head coach, sporting a training kit with his initials. Subsequently, corrected himself. Actually, there was a single manager who was probably as important as the crest – we all know who that was.”} Then came, an impression of the legendary manager, an attempt at that distinctive accent. Lad, well done,’” he said, reliving his time as a trainee at the club's stadium, the period he spent strolling down the river, with Del Boy, whizzing past him and his boss's voice always within earshot.

The coach tells a story of how, as a youngster, he and a couple of mates looked after Clough’s garden at his home in Quarndon. Our weekly wage was minimal and he paid you a tenner to do his lawn. So we actually thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d cook for you and ensure you were cared for. It was rather enjoyable, not too much yard work.”

For Dyche, this moment has been a years in the making. He resides in the area and has a fondness for the club. In lately, he and his long-term assistant Ian Woan, who was a member of the Nottingham Forest squad the last time they were in Europe, in 1995‑96, have sometimes visited the West Bridgford cafe where Forest legends such as Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and Garry Birtles gather every Thursday to discuss old and new tales. He will have to give it a miss this week to get ready for the arrival of Porto, undefeated this season, in the Europa League on this week.

I can't wait to meeting the club legends,” said the manager, who succeeded the previous coach to become the team's third head coach of the season. “They will give me a bit of ear-holing if I don’t do too well, so I better win some matches for them. Those guys mean a lot to me. A great deal of Forest fans appreciate the legacy of this institution. I have personal ties and now I’ve got a opportunity to reinvent my personal history, I suppose, as coach.”

The new boss took Forest training for the first time on this week, a short while after his predecessor oversaw a three-nil home defeat by Chelsea that placed the club in the top division relegation zone. Ryan Yates, who came aged eight, admitted these are just the start but he and his team have alleviated some of the gloom.

Dyche’s staff includes another club icon in a former player, as well as a coach and another staff member, both of whom featured for the team. In my view a massive strength of this club is fostering the connection between the supporters, players and manager and, let’s be honest, the last few weeks we haven’t had a good feeling around here,” Yates said. “The new manager and his staff have brought that feeling of vitality and enthusiasm.”

He made clear he doesn't understand the club like the inside out” given his most recent experience at Forest has been as an opposition boss, but he believes he has a wider understanding of the environment and demands. The house rules have been set. I allowed the players wear white socks, for heaven's sake,” the manager said. I expect my former teammates caning me on WhatsApp. But they’re forbidden to wear neck warmers or headgear … I had to do a deal somewhere.”

Forest have been defeated in their past four fixtures and failed to secure a victory since the start of the season. The coach said the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, understood the importance of steadying things. He encountered the Greek billionaire in the Europa League with Burnley, when his team were beaten in a playoff against Olympiakos in 2018. Following the initial match he voiced frustration at Olympiakos dignitaries, among them the owner, confronting the referees at the break in Piraeus. “We had a bit of a giggle,” he said.

One aspect of his appeal is his reputation for building teams with solid bases, relevant for a team without a shutout in many games. People categorize me, I’m not concerned,” he stated. “I’ve never tried to hide behind what’s effective. It’s no point of pride to me. Five years ago people were going: ‘Why do you depend on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Skinny jeans, wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, bell-bottoms … my child criticizes me for any jeans I wear. Apparently on social media even I got some criticism for my shoes walking into training [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, regardless, prefer not to mention it.”

Dyche is proud that his early career were at the club but thinks that should not mean he or his team are evaluated in a special way. “There’s no shortcut with the fans, but we are committed, that’s one thing I believe can ever be doubted,” he said. My only aspiration was putting on the jersey, but I never got to do it. Steve Stone and Woany did, Billy Mercer did as a temporary keeper, Tony wore it and scored a goal. I was the only one who didn’t and they constantly tell me of that.

“In my case to have that part of it is a significant matter for me individually. But it doesn’t give me a special privilege, believe me. The fans expect me to win. If I’m not winning, the fans are going to come at me because that’s the way fans work and I’ve got no issue with that because that’s the reality. I was at the club as a kid and never wore the kit, the emblem. Now, now, I’m sitting with it wearing it.”