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“This emblem is more significant than every manager,” Sean Dyche declared at his introduction as the club's manager, wearing a training top with his monogram. He then, amended his statement. “Well, there was one manager who was likely as important as the crest – we all know who that was.”} Following that, an impression of Brian Clough, a crack at that unique accent. Lad, well done,’” he said, reminiscing about his three years as a youth player at the club's stadium, the period he spent strolling down the Trent, with Del Boy, dashing past him and his boss's voice always within hearing range.

The coach tells a story of how, as a youth player, he and a couple of mates looked after Clough’s garden at his residence in the area. “We were on £28.50 a week and he gave you a tenner to do his lawn. So we actually thought: ‘This is pretty good.’ He’d cook for you and make sure 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 planning. He lives in the city and has a affection for the club. In lately, he and his long-term assistant Ian Woan, who was a member of the Forest squad the last time they were in European competition, in the mid-90s, have occasionally visited the local coffee shop where Forest legends such as a former player, Colin Barrett and Garry Birtles gather every Thursday to discuss old and new tales. He will have to give it a miss this week to get ready for the arrival of the Portuguese side, unbeaten this campaign, in the Europa League on this week.

I can't wait to seeing the club legends,” remarked the manager, who succeeded the previous coach to become the team's latest head coach of the season. I'll get an earful if I don’t do too well, so I must secure some matches for them. Those fellows are important to me. A great deal of supporters recognise the legacy of this institution. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a chance to reinvent my personal story, I guess, as coach.”

Dyche took the team practice for the first time on this week, three days after his predecessor oversaw a three-nil home loss by Chelsea that left the side in the top division relegation zone. the club captain, who joined aged eight, admitted these are early days but he and his team have eased some of the gloom.

His staff features one more Forest hero in Steve Stone, as well as Billy Mercer and Tony Loughlan, who played for the team. “I feel like a huge strength of this club is getting the bond between the supporters, players and manager and, let’s be honest, the last few weeks we lacked a positive atmosphere around here,” Yates said. Dyche and his assistants have brought that feeling of vitality and energy.”

He made clear he does not “know the team like the back of my hand” considering his latest encounter at the club has been as an rival boss, but he believes he has a wider grasp of the place and demands. The guidelines have been set. I allowed the players wear light-colored footwear, for heaven's sake,” the manager said. “I’ll have my former teammates criticizing me on WhatsApp. But they’re forbidden to wear snoods or headgear … I had to make a compromise somewhere.”

Forest have lost their last four matches and not won since the opening day. Dyche mentioned the proprietor, the Greek businessman, recognised the importance of steadying things. Dyche faced the wealthy individual in the Europa League with his former club, when his side lost in a playoff against the Greek side in recent years. Following the initial match he expressed anger at Olympiakos dignitaries, including the owner, confronting the referees at half-time in the stadium. We laughed about it,” Dyche recalled.

Part of his attraction is his reputation for building teams with strong bases, relevant for a team without a shutout in many games. People categorize me, I’m not concerned,” he stated. I don't avoid behind what’s successful. It’s no badge of honour to me. In the past people were going: ‘Why do you depend on set pieces?’ Now they’re in vogue. Skinny jeans, wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, flared jeans … my child criticizes me for any jeans I wear. It seems on online platforms even I got some stick for my shoes arriving at training [on Tuesday] … couldn’t believe that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, anyway, prefer not to bring it up it.”

Dyche is pleased that his formative years were at Forest but believes that should not mean he or his staff are judged in a special way. No easy path with the supporters, but we do care, that’s one thing I believe can ever be questioned,” he remarked. My only aspiration was putting on the jersey, but I never got to do it. Steve Stone and Woany did, Billy Mercer played as a loan keeper, Tony wore it and netted a goal. I was the only one who didn’t and they keep reminding me of that.

“For me to have that connection of it is a big thing for me individually. But it doesn’t give me a divine right, trust me. The supporters want me to win. If I’m not winning, the fans are going to come at me because that’s the way fans behave and I’ve got no problem with that because that’s the reality. I was here as a youth and didn't get to wear the kit, the badge. Well, now, I’m here with it wearing it.”