Notingham Forest statement speaks volumes as Nuno sacked just three games into season

Nottingham Forest have sacked Nuno Espirito Santo with the club citing "recent circumstances" as they confirmed his exit late on Monday night - just three games into the Premier League season.

Nuno had presided over the club's best season in thirty years, resulting in them qualifying for Europe, but tensions have arose in recent weeks with the Portuguese boss publicly admitting his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had declined.

The Green businessman has previously been ruthless in moving on managers and has done that again with the verbal jibes between the pair no doubt leading to Nuno leaving the City Ground.

All appeared to be harmonious at the end of last season with Forest finishing in seventh and ending up in the Europa League , but Nuno's decision to go public with his relationship looks to have motivated the two parties going their opposite ways.

The club began their statement by saying: " Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espírito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as Head Coach."

Whilst they acknowledged that Nuno had been part of a "very successful era" their reference to the events that occurred recently seem to suggest that the public comments around Marinakis and their relationship have played a pivotal part in the decision.

Earlier in the summer the now ex-Forest boss said: "I always had a very good relationship with the owner - last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis. This season it is not so well. Our relationship has changed and we are not as close. Everybody at the club should be together, but this is not the reality."

Sky Sports later reported that Marinakis and the Forest hierarchy were baffled by Nuno's comments. They had no intention of removing him from his post and wanted to restore unity, but that has clearly not be achieved.

It was thought that transfer business may have been a bone of contention. Ex-Arsenal chief Edu came in to take up a leadership role, but In total Forest still made 13 summer signings, shelling out around £196m, and also retained Morgan Gibbs-White amid interest from Tottenham .

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