Next Nottingham Forest manager: Cooper the early favourite

Nottingham Forest are on the hunt for their 28th different manager in the last 17 years after parting ways with Chris Hughton following their worst start to a season in more than 100 years.

The Tricky Trees are 12-5 with Paddy Power to be relegated having lost six of their opening seven games, leaving them rock bottom of the Championship on one point.

Wednesday's 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough proved to be the final straw for the club's hierarchy, deciding Hughton's position had become untenable and relieving him of his duties on Thursday.

Former Swansea boss Steve Cooper has been installed as the early favourite to succeed Hughton following reports that Forest have drawn up a three-man shortlist of potential replacements.

Cooper left Swansea in the summer after guiding the Welsh club to the Championship playoff final following a sixth-place finish.

Joining Cooper at the top of the market are former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder and ex-Aston Villa first team coach John Terry, while former Forest midfielder Roy Keane's name also features in the early betting.

Whoever takes charge will be tasked with guiding Forest away from the relegation zone quickly, Hughton having struggled to turn around Forest's fortunes in his 11 months in charge.

The 62-year-old never took Forest higher than 14th in the Championship and leaves having overseen just 14 wins from 53 games in charge.

First-team coach Steven Reid has been named interim head coach for Saturday's game with Huddersfield.

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