Nottingham Forest have been instantly rejected by one of their managerial targets after sacking Ange Postecoglou mere minutes after the 3-0 loss to Chelsea.
Postecoglou only replaced Nuno Espirito Santo after his dismissal month but he endured a torrid start to life at the City Ground and was booed by his own supporters, who chanted "You're getting sacked in the morning to him" on multiple occasions.
With pressure increasing each week, Postecoglou was finally relieved of his duties on Saturday afternoon after failing to win any of the eight games he took charge of and leaving Forest in 18th place in the Premier League.
Advert
His tenure lasted 39 days - the second-shortest in Premier League history after Sam Allardyce's brief stint at Leeds United.
Forest announced the Australian's sacking just minutes after the final whistle and the former Spurs manager was seen walking away from the stadium on his own, with a bag on his back.
The East Midlands outfit are now looking for their third manager of the season after two sackings, with Sean Dyche said to have held talks over a return to management but length of contract a potential issue in appointing him, as per Mike Keegan from the Daily Mail.
However, one potential candidate identified by Forest has already turned them down. According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Forest approached the experienced Luciano Spalletti but there are "no possibilities" of the former Italy, Napoli, Inter Milan and Roma boss taking the job.
Forest make contact with Premier League winner
Forest could still end up with a former Italy and Inter manager in the dug-out as according to The Athletic, they have made contact with Roberto Mancini.
David Ornstein reports that Forest have spoken to the 60-year-old, who won the Premier League with Manchester City and Euro 2020 with with Italy.
He has been out of work since leaving his position as head coach of Saudi Arabia around a year ago.
Recent reports claimed he had expressed an interest in the Manchester United job should Ruben Amorim's experiment at Old Trafford come to an end.
Mancini had a brief stint playing in the East Midlands, spending time on loan at Leicester City back in 2001 - eight years before he replaced Mark Hughes at the Etihad Stadium and ended the Blues' 35-year trophy drought with an FA Cup triumph.
He went on to guide City a first league title in 44 years the following season before being sacked after defeat to Wigan Athletic in the 2013 FA Cup final.
Mancini has also had spells in charge of Fiorentina, Inter, Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg at club level.
Topics: Nottingham Forest, Premier League, Ange Postecoglou
Josh Lawless