Patrick Vieira is being lined up for a near instant return to Premier League management by Nottingham Forest.
The Arsenal legend was sacked by Crystal Palace a fortnight ago following a disastrous run of results which had seen the Eagles slip into relegation trouble.
Forest, meanwhile, have failed to win any of their last seven games and are within a point of the dropzone after Saturday’s controversial 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Wolves.
Steve Cooper, who masterminded Forest’s improbable promotion campaign last season, was forced to completely overhaul his squad at the start of the campaign and, including January arrivals, the club have recruited 30 players this term.
The former Swansea manager earned a vote of confidence when his team was languishing at the bottom of the table in October and was rewarded with a new long-term contract.
However, should Forest lose against Leeds at Elland Road this season they would drop to as low as 19th in the table and Cooper would again be left clinging to his job.
According to the Daily Mail, defeat the evening could spell the end for Cooper and accelerate plans to have Vieira in place for the run-in.
Speaking about the possibility of losing his job before the trip to Leeds, Cooper said: ‘I just do my job. There’s always sideshows running alongside what is most important, which is turning up and doing the best you can.
‘I’m always thinking about work and I’m completely obsessed with being my best and doing my best.
‘It means everything to me and if something means everything to you, you give everything and nothing else matters. I am single-minded — just on doing my best not to let anyone down here — and I’m trying to support the players the best I can so we can be the team we want to be on match-days.
‘Of course we’re discussing, debating, supporting each other and really trying to talk about how we take the next steps going forward. There’s nothing in the past few weeks that has been out of the norm in terms of my relationship with the owner.’
MORE : Patrick Vieira linked with swift return to the Premier League with Leeds interested
MORE : Crystal Palace caretaker issues update on Patrick Vieira replacement after heavy loss at Arsenal
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