SEAN DYCHE is set to be confirmed as Nottingham Forest manager in the next 24 hours.
The former Burnley and Everton boss has verbally agreed to become the THIRD man in the City Ground hotseat this season.
Dyche, 54, was yesterday completing a deal to replace Ange Postecoglou.
But the club’s main concern on Monday was an expression of sadness after the tragic death of Harley Pearce, son of Forest legend Stuart.
Fulham manager Marco Silva and former Manchester City chief Roberto Mancini were also candidates to replace Postecoglou.
Last season’s Europa League-winning manager with Tottenham was fired after just 39 days in charge in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea.
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Forest failed to reach an agreement with Mancini — who led Italy to Euro 2020 glory but has been out of work since leaving his post as Saudi Arabia boss a year ago.
And it would have cost them too much compensation to take Silva from Craven Cottage, even though the 48-year-old’s contract is up at the end of the season.
Having sacked two managers already this season — with Nuno Espirito Santo having been axed early last month — Forest have to beware of PSR restrictions.
But Dyche, who was a young professional at Forest in the late 1980s when Brian Clough was manager, was always the front-runner.
And he will make his Prem return ten months after being sacked by Everton hours before an FA Cup tie against Peterborough.
He comfortably kept the Toffees up in 2023-24 despite a six-point deduction for PSR breaches.
But he left this year with Everton one point above the drop zone after three wins in 19 games.
Forest have taken just one point and scored one goal in their last six league games and slipped into the bottom three on Saturday.
Dyche will want to tighten a defence which has conceded 23 goals in 11 matches in all competitions this term.
He is expected to take charge of Forest’s home Europa League match against Porto on Thursday.
The game’s importance has been heightened after a shock 3-2 home defeat by Danish side Midtjylland this month.
That has left them with just one point from two games on Forest’s return to European football for the first time in three decades.
And with Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis targeting trophies, Dyche will be expected to quickly revive their fortunes.
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Dyche, who lives in Nottingham, is expected to be joined by former Forest stars Ian Woan and Steve Stone — trusted members of his staff at Burnley and Everton.
He has said in the past he likes “direct” football and he will put winning ahead of style.
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