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“This emblem is more significant than any manager,” Sean Dyche stated at his unveiling as Nottingham Forest’s manager, wearing a training top with his initials. Subsequently, corrected himself. “Well, there was a single manager who was likely as important as the badge – we all know who that was.”} Following that, an impression of the legendary manager, a crack at that unique accent. Lad, well done,’” he recalled, reliving his time as a youth player at the club's stadium, the days he spent strolling down the river, with Del Boy, whizzing past him and his boss's voice always within hearing range.

The coach tells a story of how, as a youngster, he and a few others tended Clough’s garden at his home in the area. “We were on £28.50 a week and he gave you a tenner to tend his garden. So we really thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d cook for you and ensure you were well looked after. It was quite enjoyable, not too much yard work.”

For Dyche, the appointment has been a long time in the making. He resides in the area and has a fondness for the club. In recent years, he and his long-term coach his deputy, who was a member of the Forest squad the previous occasion they were in European competition, in 1995‑96, have occasionally popped into the local coffee shop where Forest legends such as Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and Garry Birtles gather every Thursday to discuss stories from past and present. He will have to skip it this week to prepare for the visit of Porto, undefeated this season, in the Europa League on this week.

I can't wait to seeing the club legends,” remarked Dyche, who replaced Ange Postecoglou to become Forest’s third head coach of the season. I'll get an earful if I don’t do too well, so I better secure some matches for them. Those guys are important to me. A great deal of Forest fans appreciate the legacy of this club. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a opportunity to reinvent my own story, I suppose, as manager.”

Dyche oversaw the team practice for the first time on this week, a short while after his predecessor watched a three-nil at home loss by the London club that placed the club in the Premier League drop zone. Ryan Yates, who joined as a child, acknowledged these are early days but Dyche and his staff have alleviated some of the gloom.

Dyche’s backroom team features another Forest hero in a former player, as well as Billy Mercer and another staff member, both of whom played for the club. In my view a huge strength of this club is fostering the connection between the fans, squad and coach and, let’s be honest, the recent period we lacked a positive feeling around here,” Yates stated. “The new manager and his staff have introduced that sense of life and enthusiasm.”

He made clear he doesn't understand the team like the back of my hand” given his latest experience at Forest has been as an opposition boss, but he believes he has a broader grasp of the environment and expectations. The guidelines have been set. “I’ve let them wear white socks, for goodness sake,” Dyche said. I expect my former teammates caning me on WhatsApp. But they’re not allowed to wear neck warmers or hats … I had to make a compromise somewhere.”

Forest have been defeated in their last four fixtures and failed to secure a victory since the opening day. The coach said the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, understood the significance of stabilising things. He faced the Greek billionaire in the European competition with Burnley, when his team were beaten in a playoff against Olympiakos in 2018. Following the initial match Dyche voiced frustration at club officials, among them Marinakis, confronting the referees at the break in Piraeus. We laughed about it,” he said.

Part of Dyche’s appeal is his reputation for constructing sides with strong bases, pertinent for a side without a clean sheet in 20 matches. People categorize me, I’m not bothered,” he said. I don't avoid behind what’s successful. It’s no point of pride to me. Five years ago people were going: ‘Why do you rely on set pieces?’ Now they’re in vogue. Tight trousers, flared jeans, skinny jeans, flared jeans … my daughter criticizes me for whatever trousers I wear. It seems on online platforms even I got some criticism for my trainers walking into training [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, regardless, don’t like to mention it.”

The manager is proud that his formative years were at the club but believes that should not mean he or his team are judged differently. “There’s no shortcut with the supporters, but we are committed, that’s a point I believe can ever be doubted,” he remarked. “All I dreamt of was putting on the jersey, but I didn't manage to achieve it. Steve Stone and Woany did, Billy played as a temporary goalkeeper, Tony Loughlan featured and netted a strike. I was the sole person who didn’t and they constantly tell me of that.

“For me to have that connection of it is a significant matter for me individually. But it doesn’t give me a divine right, trust me. The supporters expect me to win. If I’m failing, the fans are going to come at me because that’s the way supporters work and I’ve got no problem with that because it's the truth. I was here as a youth and never wore the kit, the badge. Well, now, I’m sitting with it wearing it.”