McClaren lands Forest job

Posted Monday, June 13, 2011 by The Sun

STEVE McCLAREN is poised to be unveiled as the new Nottingham Forest manager.

The ex-England boss will step in just a day after Billy Davies got the sack.

Talks are well advanced and McClaren is ready to take on the challenge.

A source close to the negotiations said: "He is the outstanding candidate, he is desperate to get back into football and Forest is a huge club.

"It's a challenge and he seems to be more than up for the challenge."

McClaren has been out of work since he was axed by German side Wolfsburg in February and has been snubbed for several Premier League posts.

Aston Villa had him on a shortlist and scheduled a meeting but went cold on him before it took place.

His reputation in this country has not recovered after his disappointing spell in charge of England but he won the Dutch title with FC Twente in 2010.

He now looks certain to be installed at Forest, who missed out on promotion under Davies as they were beaten by Swansea in the Championship play-offs.

Scot Davies joined Forest in January 2009 but despite things moving in the right direction on the field, Davies had ongoing spats with his board over spending.

He spent £4million on new players during his first summer in charge.

Davies then led the club to an unbeaten run of 19 league games which took them to a play-off place at the end of the 2010 season.

However, they were beaten 6-4 on aggregate by unfancied Blackpool who strode on to win promotion at Wembley.

Davies went on record to say if the board backed him this January, he could lead them to the play-offs.

Forest duly brought in striker Kris Boyd in that transfer window from Middlesbrough and his six goals in nine games fired Forest into the play-offs but to no avail.