Steve Cooper has firmly ruled out any chance of returning to Nottingham Forest, as the club prepares to appoint its third manager of the season.
The Reds are closing in on a deal to name Sean Dyche as their new head coach, with the 54-year-old set to succeed Ange Postecoglou following the Australian’s dismissal after a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. Postecoglou’s future had been under scrutiny for weeks, and owner Evangelos Marinakis reportedly weighed up several options — including a sensational move to bring Cooper back.
Cooper, however, has made it clear that such a reunion is not on the cards. The Welshman, who guided Forest back to the Premier League in 2022 and kept them there before being sacked in 2023, is now in charge of Danish side Brøndby and insists he is fully committed to the job.
“It’s not going to happen,” Cooper told Danish outlet Tipsbladet. “I’m really, really happy here at the club. I’m a very authentic person, and if you listen to what I say, you’ll know that I mean it. When you say something, you have to show it.
“My focus is completely on what we’re building here. There are many areas where we can take this club to the next level. Just look at today’s performance — we still have a lot to improve. It’s a typical thing for a new coach to say, but the players know I’ve been very clear about what I expect.”
Cooper had already been asked about the Forest links before the weekend, but his stance was the same.
“I don’t read the media or pay attention to speculation,” he said on Friday. “I’m just focused on my work here. I’ve said many times that I really enjoy what I’m doing and am completely committed to what we can achieve together. That’s all that occupies my mind.”
He added: “It’s a great honour to be here, and I want to respect this position by giving my absolute best every single day.”