The recent form of Nottingham Forest has caused worry for many fans with speculation arising over the uncertain future of Head Coach Steve Cooper, the man who guided the club to the promised land of the Premier League, now finding things tough as his side sit bottom of the table.

Monday nights defeat at Leicester caused media speculation over the Reds managers future but Forest fans rallied to back their boss, and on Friday morning it was announced, that Cooper would not be leaving the City Ground, and instead, has been rewarded for his efforts, with a contract extended until 2025.

The club state “It is now important that our focus is solely on football. As a group we are all concentrated and will do everything we can to help the team move up the league table and once again demonstrate our qualities that led us to the Premier League.”

Owner Evangelos Marinakis has not been shy previously to sack managers ,but his efforts to keep Cooper, assuring the fans and players that the Welshman is here to stay, a significant call that safeguards the immediate future despite the position that the team currently find themselves in.

Having lost their last five games, Forest will look to pick themselves up against Aston Villa on Monday night in a huge game at the City Ground for both clubs involved. Villa currently sitting on eight points, fourteenth in the table with Forest hoping to close that gap with a much-needed morale boosting point securing victory in front of the Sky cameras.

In other news from the City Ground this week, Forest have added former Watford sporting director Filipo Giraldo to their back room team. Giraldo spent nine years at Vicarage Road where he was Head Scout and Technical Director with previous employment in Serie A at Brescia and with the Italian National team.

*Main image @NFFC Steve Cooper has been awarded a contract until 2025.