Everton’s former manager Keith Wyness believes Evangelos Marinakis will expect Nottingham Forest to come closer to the mid-table next season.
Speaking on the latest episode of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old, who was CEO at Goodison Park from 2004 to 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs, insisted Nuno Espirito Santo’s future will be called into question if they face another relegation battle.
The Portuguese manager led Forest to safety last season after taking over from Steve Cooper in December.
Although they ended one place above the relegation zone, the club received a four-point punishment after being accused with expenditure violations.
Nottingham Forest chief likely expecting mid-table finish
Wyness believes Marinakis will be hopeful Forest can climb the ladder and avoid relegation next season, having faced relegation in both of their previous campaigns in the Premier League.
He told Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast: “What I believe Marinakis will expect from Nuno is a season free of relegation anxieties.
“Establish themselves from 10th to 15th place, stay there all season, and have no fear of relegation.” That is what I am sure Marinakis has in mind for this year.
“They would then begin the busy cycle of attempting to establish themselves in the Premier League.
“That’s what he wants provided there is no more points deductions for them. They were almost doing that last season. That’s what he would expect at least.
“If they get lucky and push towards 10th, that would be great.
“Then I think Forest would start feeling that they are getting the hang of this and Marinakis would be happy seeing a more stable asset.
“That’s what I think his target is.
“If Nuno doesn’t achieve that and there is another relegation-battling season for whatever reason, then I think he’ll be thinking Marinakis is not shy of pushing the button.”
