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“This badge is more significant than every manager,” Sean Dyche stated at his introduction as the club's manager, wearing a training top with his initials. He then, amended his statement. “Well, there was a single manager who was probably as big as the crest – everyone recognizes who that was.”} Following that, an impression of the legendary manager, a crack at that distinctive accent. Lad, well done,’” he said, reminiscing about his time as a trainee at the club's stadium, the days he spent strolling down the Trent, with Del Boy, whizzing past him and his manager’s voice always within earshot.

The coach tells a story of how, as a youngster, he and a few others looked after the manager's garden at his home in Quarndon. “We were on £28.50 a week and he paid you a ten pounds to tend his lawn. So we actually thought: ‘This is pretty good.’ He’d prepare food for you and make sure you were well looked after. It was quite enjoyable, not too much gardening.”

In his case, this moment has been a years in the making. He resides in the city and has a fondness for the team. In recent years, he and his longstanding coach Ian Woan, who was part of the Nottingham Forest side the last time they were in European competition, in the mid-90s, have sometimes popped into the local cafe where Forest legends such as Frank Clark, another stalwart and a famous name meet every week to discuss old and new tales. He will have to give it a miss this week to get ready for the visit of Porto, unbeaten this season, in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the club legends,” remarked the manager, who replaced the previous coach to become Forest’s latest head coach of the season. I'll get an earful if I fail to deliver, so I must secure some matches for them. Those guys are important to me. A great deal of supporters recognise the legacy of this institution. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a opportunity to reshape my own story, I suppose, as manager.”

Dyche oversaw Forest training for the initial session on this week, three days after Postecoglou oversaw a three-nil at home defeat by Chelsea that left the side in the top division drop zone. the club captain, who joined aged eight, admitted these are just the start but he and his staff have alleviated some of the negativity.

His staff includes another Forest hero in Steve Stone, as well as Billy Mercer and another staff member, who featured for the team. In my view a huge strength of this organization is getting the bond between the fans, players and manager and, frankly, the recent period we haven’t had a positive atmosphere around here,” the captain said. Dyche and his staff have introduced that sense of vitality and energy.”

Dyche emphasized he doesn't “know the team like the inside out” given his latest encounter at the club has been as an opposition manager, but he believes he has a wider understanding of the environment and demands. The house rules have been set. I allowed the players wear light-colored footwear, for goodness sake,” the manager said. I expect my former teammates caning me on messaging. But they’re not allowed to wear snoods or hats … I had to make a deal somewhere.”

Forest have lost their last four fixtures and failed to secure a victory since the start of the season. The coach said the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, understood the significance of stabilising the situation. Dyche faced the wealthy individual in the European competition with Burnley, when his team were beaten in a playoff against Olympiakos in recent years. After the first leg Dyche voiced frustration at club officials, including Marinakis, approaching the officials at half-time in the stadium. “We had a bit of a giggle,” Dyche said.

Part of his appeal is his image for building sides with solid foundations, pertinent for a team without a clean sheet in many games. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not bothered,” he said. “I’ve never tried to hide behind what’s effective. It’s no point of pride to me. In the past people were going: ‘Why do you depend on dead balls?’ Now they’re in vogue. Skinny jeans, wide-leg pants, slim fits, flared jeans … my child hammers me for whatever trousers I wear. It seems on online platforms even I got some criticism for my shoes arriving at training [on Tuesday] … couldn’t believe that. A brand [trainers] but, regardless, don’t like to mention it.”

The manager is pleased that his formative years were at Forest but believes that should not mean he or his staff are judged in a special way. No easy path with the supporters, but we are committed, that’s one thing I believe can ever be questioned,” he said. “All I dreamt of was wearing the jersey, but I never got to achieve it. Stoney and Woany succeeded, Billy played as a temporary keeper, Tony Loughlan wore it and scored a strike. I was the sole person who failed to and they keep reminding me of that.

“In my case to have that part of it is a significant matter for me individually. But it doesn't grant me a special privilege, trust me. The supporters want me to succeed. If I’m failing, the crowd are going to come at me because that’s the way supporters work and I’ve got no issue with that because it's the truth. I was here as a kid and didn't get to wear the kit, the badge. Well, currently, I’m sitting with it on me.”