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“This badge is more significant than every manager,” Sean Dyche declared at his unveiling as the club's manager, wearing a training kit with his monogram. He then, corrected himself. “Well, there was a single manager who was likely as big as the crest – everyone recognizes who that was.”} Then came, an impression of Brian Clough, a crack at that unique drawl. Lad, well done,’” he recalled, reliving his three years as a trainee at the club's stadium, the period he spent strolling down the Trent, with Del Boy, whizzing past him and his boss's voice invariably within hearing range.

Dyche tells a story of how, as a youth player, he and a few others tended Clough’s yard at his home in Quarndon. Our weekly wage was minimal and he paid you a tenner to tend his lawn. So we really thought: ‘This is pretty good.’ He’d prepare food for you and ensure you were cared for. It was rather enjoyable, not too much gardening.”

For Dyche, this moment has been a years in the planning. He resides in the area and has a fondness for the team. In lately, he and his long-term assistant his deputy, who was a member of the Nottingham Forest side the previous occasion they were in Europe, in the mid-90s, have occasionally visited the West Bridgford coffee shop where Forest legends such as a former player, another stalwart and Garry Birtles meet every week to talk old and new tales. He will have to skip it this time to get ready for the visit of Porto, undefeated this campaign, in the Europa League on this week.

I can't wait to seeing the miracle men,” said Dyche, who replaced the previous coach to become Forest’s third manager of the season. I'll get an earful if I fail to deliver, so I must secure some matches for them. Those guys mean a lot to me. A great deal of Forest fans appreciate the legacy of this club. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a opportunity to reinvent my personal story, I guess, as manager.”

Dyche took Forest training for the first time on this week, a short while after his predecessor oversaw a 3‑0 at home loss by the London club that left the club in the Premier League relegation zone. the club captain, who joined aged eight, admitted these are just the start but he and his team have eased some of the gloom.

His backroom team features one more Forest hero in a former player, as well as Billy Mercer and another staff member, both of whom played for the club. “I feel like a massive strength of this organization is fostering the connection between the supporters, squad and manager and, let’s be honest, the recent period we lacked a good atmosphere around here,” Yates said. Dyche and his assistants have brought that feeling of vitality and enthusiasm.”

He emphasized he does not “know the club like the back of my hand” given his latest experience at the club has been as an opposition boss, but he believes he has a wider grasp of the environment and expectations. The house rules have been set. “I’ve let them wear white socks, for goodness sake,” the manager commented. I expect my former teammates criticizing me on WhatsApp. But they’re not allowed to wear snoods or hats … I had to make a compromise somewhere.”

Forest have been defeated in their last four fixtures and not won since the opening day. Dyche said the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, recognised the significance of stabilising things. He faced the Greek billionaire in the Europa League with his former club, when his side lost in a playoff against Olympiakos in recent years. After the first leg Dyche expressed anger at club officials, among them Marinakis, confronting the referees at the break in Piraeus. We laughed about it,” Dyche said.

Part of his appeal is his reputation for building sides with strong bases, pertinent for a side without a clean sheet in many games. People categorize me, I’m not bothered,” he stated. “I’ve never tried to hide behind what’s effective. It’s no badge of honour to me. Five years ago people were going: ‘Why do you rely on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Skinny jeans, flared jeans, slim fits, flared jeans … my daughter criticizes me for whatever trousers I wear. It seems on online platforms even I got some stick for my shoes walking into training [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. A brand [trainers] but, anyway, prefer not to bring it up it.”

Dyche is pleased that his formative years were at Forest but believes that should not mean he or his staff are judged in a special way. “There’s no shortcut with the supporters, but we do care, that’s one thing I believe can ever be doubted,” he said. My only aspiration was wearing the jersey, but I didn't manage to achieve it. Steve Stone and Woany did, Billy did as a loan goalkeeper, Tony featured and netted a strike. I was the sole person who failed to and they keep reminding me of that.

“For me to have that connection of it is a big thing for me individually. But it doesn’t give me a special privilege, believe me. The supporters want me to succeed. If I’m not winning, the crowd are going to criticize 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 shirt, the emblem. Now, currently, I’m sitting with it wearing it.”