Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is preparing to delay the sack of manager Oliver Glasner until a “familiar” replacement becomes available, according to shocking insider claims from former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness.
Despite mounting public pressure following a disastrous start to the 2026/27 campaign—which has yielded just one victory in six Premier League games—the Austrian tactician remains in the City Ground dugout by default.
However, boardroom analysis suggests Marinakis is secretly scouting trusted past associates to ensure a seamless managerial transition before officially pulling the trigger on Glasner’s tenure.
The Marinakis Blueprint: Why Familiarity Dictates the Next Move
Speaking exclusively on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness—who now operates an elite football consultancy after leading Everton from 2004 to 2009—explained that Marinakis rarely fires a manager without having his successor lined up in advance.
Highlighting the Greek tycoon’s chaotic four-manager spree last season, which culminated in the hiring of former Olympiacos boss Vítor Pereira, Wyness revealed that Marinakis’ hiring strategy revolves strictly around personal familiarity:
“Now if Marinakis does hire again, he tends to hire familiarity. He tends to hire managers that he’s familiar with, and you’ve got to look at who’s available as well; he’ll make up his mind as to who it would be before he thinks about firing Glasner.
“So we’ve got to see who might be available that he knows and who he likes, but it’s bad for him and for Forest to have this continual parade of managers. It does nobody any good and is not the right answer to help secure his long-term legacy.”
November Deadline: Four Games to Save His Job
While Glasner was only appointed in the summer, his margin for error has completely evaporated ahead of a grueling four-game gauntlet leading into the upcoming November international break.
Historically, international windows serve as prime firing season for trigger-happy owners, giving new managers two full weeks to implement tactical changes without matchday distractions.
Forest’s high-stakes schedule before the break includes terrifying home clashes against title contenders Arsenal and reigning champions Manchester City, alongside crucial away trips to Ipswich Town and Brentford.
Should Forest fail to pick up substantial points in those four fixtures, Marinakis is expected to execute his sack plan during the November window.
Mounting Pressure on City Ground Hierarchy
While fan frustration continues to grow over Forest’s toothless attack and lack of home victories, Wyness warned that constant managerial turnover threatens to undermine the club’s long-term Premier League stability.
If Glasner hopes to avoid becoming the fifth managerial casualty at the City Ground in under two years, he must unlock striker Liam Delap’s finishing form and secure back-to-back results against Arsenal and Ipswich. Otherwise, Marinakis’ preferred replacement will be waiting in the wings to take his seat come November.
