Nuno Espírito Santo isn’t hiding his frustration with the direction of Nottingham Forest anymore. Speaking before the draw against Crystal Palace, the Portuguese coach admitted that his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis just isn’t what it once was. What might have looked like normal wear and tear has now turned into something more serious after a report from The Athletic. The outlet says the real source of tension isn’t only Marinakis but also Brazilian executive Edu Gaspar, who was brought in to give Forest’s sporting management more weight.
It’s a complicated situation because it cuts through several layers of the club. On the field, Nuno still enjoys strong support from the fans. His name was shouted from the stands after the away draw, and he responded with a gesture that felt like a thank you, almost a symbol of the bond between him and the supporters. Away from the pitch, though, confidence is breaking down. Nuno openly admitted he can’t promise he’ll remain in charge after the next transfer window. His words laid bare how fragile his relationship with the board has become. “I hope to continue, but I don’t know, I can’t answer that. I’m doing everything I can to help Forest, you can see my dedication. We know each other very well (about Marinakis), we’ve been in this business for a long time. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, so I know how things work, but I’m here to do my job,” he said.
The tension with Edu Gaspar
The Athletic reports that Nuno and Edu Gaspar simply don’t see eye to eye behind the scenes. The Portuguese coach had already complained about preseason planning and also showed his frustration with the most recent transfer window, when he felt he didn’t get the backing he needed to shape the squad according to his ideas. Edu, meanwhile, came in with a mission to modernize processes and bring more structure to the soccer department, but instead of smoothing things out, his presence has become another source of conflict.
That clash of approaches has created a real impasse. On one side, there’s a seasoned coach respected by the supporters. On the other, an executive with international experience who still hasn’t managed to align his vision with what’s happening on the field. In the middle of it all, Marinakis is trying to manage the storm, but he, too, was criticized by Nuno. “Our relationship has changed. It’s not as close, it’s not daily. That’s not good, everyone at the club needs to be together but that’s not what’s happening. Reality is no longer what it was. It was a good and respectful relationship, more based on trust and shared opinions, now it’s not so good,” the coach said.
The rope stretched between Nuno, Edu and Marinakis
The question now is how long this rope can stay tight before it finally snaps. If Nuno leaves, Nottingham Forest won’t just lose a well-regarded coach, it’ll also lose the connection that keeps fans engaged at such a crucial moment in the season. If Edu continues to clash with him, the atmosphere will stay tense. And if Marinakis can’t rebuild the bridge between the two, the club could find itself staring at a future so uncertain it risks hurting performances on the field.
Forest now faces a dilemma that goes way beyond signings or lineups. What’s really on the line is whether the club can align interests, respect roles, and restore the stability it badly needs to compete in the Premier League. The fans have already chosen their side, but the final call will be up to Marinakis, who’ll have to move quickly if he doesn’t want to see the entire project crumble under internal disputes.