Stuart Pearce sacked as Nottingham Forest manager
Sunday 1 February 2015 20:56, UK
Stuart Pearce has been sacked as manager of Nottingham Forest, the club confirmed on Sunday evening.
The 52-year-old, who took the reins last summer, has overseen just three wins in 21 Championship matches since September. He will be replaced at Forest by Dougie Freedman.
After a blistering start to the season in which Forest won five of their opening seven league games and sat top of the division, the club have slipped to 12th after a third successive home league defeat came against struggling Millwall.
And Forest released a statement on Sunday evening which read: "After long discussions between owner and chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi and manager Stuart Pearce, the club has decided that Stuart will be relieved of his role as manager with immediate effect.
“Mr Al Hasawi has offered Stuart an alternative role at the club, which he is currently considering.
“The club will be making no further comment at this time.”
Al Hasawi himself then released a statement and said: "I would like to place on record my gratitude to Stuart Pearce for all his endeavours during his time as manager of Nottingham Forest.
"My decision to relieve Stuart of his duties is the hardest footballing decision I have ever made.
"I came to that decision after a long conversation with Stuart about the best next step for the club.
"Unfortunately, recent results convinced me it was best to pursue alternative managerial options. I hope our supporters understand my decision.
"Stuart is someone I have always admired and that will never change. For that reason, I have offered him an advisory role at the club, which I sincerely hope he accepts, so we can all move forward together.
"Thank you all for your continued support."
Sky Sports News HQ's reporter Rob Dorsett said: "It’s been with a very heavy heart that Fawaz Al-Hasawi has taken the decision to sack a club legend in Stuart Pearce.
"He did consider sacking him last month before the win at Derby County and many supporters and several sources expected Pearce to leave if they didn't win that game.
"But, of course, they did beat their local rivals on January 17 and they hoped that had been a turning point.
"However, it hasn't happened that way and it appears the home defeat to Millwall, who are struggling themselves, was the final straw. So, I don’t think it will come as a surprise that he has now gone."
Pearce spent 12 years as a Forest player from 1985 to 1997, making over 500 appearances for the club and spending a year in caretaker charge before leaving for spells with Newcastle, West Ham and Manchester City.
He began his managerial career with City, taking over from Kevin Keegan after working under the former England manager as coach, and then took over the England U-21s until the end of his contract in 2013.
