O'Driscoll returns to Forest

Nottingham Forest have appointed Sean O'Driscoll as the club's new manager.



O'Driscoll, who had been on the Forest coaching staff for the second half of the 2011-12 season, leaves Crawley Town having only taken charge in May.



Steve Cotterill, sacked following the recent Kuwaiti takeover at the City Ground, had appointed O'Driscoll in January to act as first-team coach, but the former Doncaster and Bournemouth boss decided to return to management with Crawley.



However, with Cotterill's exit leaving the top job open, O'Driscoll accepted the chance to return to the Championship club.



Forest had seen expressions of interest from several big names, including former England managers Sven-Goran Eriksson and Glenn Hoddle, but majority shareholder Fawaz Al Hasawi told the club's official website: "We interviewed many well-known and high profile figures but none of them impressed us as much as Sean O'Driscoll.



"Sean's passion for Nottingham Forest, knowledge of the game and the Championship in particular, plus his work ethic, shone through in our conversations. He is hugely respected, not only by members of our current squad and staff at the club for his work in helping transform our fortunes last season, but also within the wider football community.



"We are delighted to welcome Sean back to the club. He has our total support and we are looking forward to a long and successful relationship."



Crawley, unhappy to have lost their new manager, have appointed director of football Steve Coppell and head coach Craig Brewster as caretakers.



Chief Executive Alan Williams said: "The club is extremely disappointed to be losing Sean so soon after he came to Crawley Town, but our policy has never been to stand in the way of any employee who feels they would prefer to pursue a role at a different club and following lengthy and intensive negotiations we have been able to agree compensation with Nottingham Forest which will include a friendly before the 2013-14 season at the City Ground.



"We would like to thank Sean for his efforts during his time at the club and we wish him all the best for the future.



"Crawley Town will now began its search for a new manager, but in the meantime director of football Steve Coppell and head coach Craig Brewster will take over first-team management, starting with the friendly against Peterborough at the Broadfield Stadium on Saturday."

Forest confirm McCarthy talks

Nottingham Forest's new owners have confirmed they have held talks with Mick McCarthy about the vacant managerial post at the City Ground.



The Kuwaiti-based Al-Hasawi family took control of Forest last week, immediately deciding to sack Steve Cotterill.



The new owners, who aim to get the Midlands club back in the Premier League, were unveiled at a press conference on Saturday.



At the media gathering one of the owners - Abdulaziz Al-Hasawi - revealed they had opened talks with McCarthy, who has proved his credentials at Championship level by guiding both Sunderland and Wolves to the Premier League as champions in 2005 and 2009 respectively.



"Mick is one of the people we are talking to, but there are others. If he meets our requirements, we would be honoured to work with Mick," said Al-Hasawi.



"It is very important for the manager to have good knowledge of this league and the teams involved in it.



"They must also have an understanding when it comes to working with a club and developing it.



"We are looking for somebody with a strong CV, with a lot of experience. We want somebody who has good, strong character to come in and inspire the players."



Al Hasawi added: "We have interviewed some people on the phone but we're starting to see people face to face and you get a much better impression when you see them face to face. They are more comfortable and can speak more openly."



Former Republic of Ireland boss McCarthy was sacked by Wolves at the end of last season following relegation from the Premier League after almost six years in charge at Molineux.



Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson and former Forest midfielder Roy Keane, who has also won promotion from the Championship as Sunderland boss, are also thought to be contenders to replace Cotterill, who was dismissed on Thursday, but there are rumours that McCarthy could be installed within the next 48 hours.

Nottingham Forest manager sacked

Nottingham Forest's new owners have decided to part company with manager Steve Cotterill.



The Kuwaiti-based Al-Hasawi family has assumed control of the Championship club and has wasted little time in implementing its plans for the Reds.



Cotterill leaves just nine months into the three-and-a-half-year deal he signed when replacing former England head coach Steve McClaren in October.



A statement on the club's official website, nottinghamforest.co.uk, said: "Nottingham Forest can confirm that manager Steve Cotterill has departed the club with immediate effect.



"Mr Cotterill met with the club's new owners, the Al-Hasawi family, yesterday and after long deliberations they have decided to make a new appointment in a bid to deliver their long-term vision.



"The club would like to acknowledge their gratitude to Mr Cotterill for guiding it through an extremely difficult and traumatic period and for retaining the side's Championship status last season.



"The club will be making no further comment at this time."