Former Nottingham Forest fan favourite Marlon Harewood has pledged his support to boss Martin O’Neill, in an interview on Talksport.
Harewood played 181 times for the Reds, netting 51 goals, and he firmly believes that Forest have the right man for the job.
O’Neill was in charge of Aston Villa when they finished sixth in the Premier League two seasons running; with Harewood featuring regularly for Villa during those campaigns.
Whilst he is firmly in the O’Neill camp he has raised the question of whether or not he will receive sufficient time at the City Ground.
Harewood told Talksport: “Martin is the man for the job.
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“Obviously he will need time but it depends how much he gets given because the owners are looking to go instantly back into the Premier League.
“They at least want the play-offs, that’s the direction they are going in, it’s just how quickly they can do it.”
O’Neill is Forest’s 13th manager in the last seven-and-a-half years and there is a sense that the constant upheaval has done more harm than good.
Under previous owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi there was a real trigger-happy culture of managers being dismissed every six months or so.
It is clear that Harewood thinks O’Neill should be given time to lead the club to the Premier League.
Forest are now 20 years without tasting Premier League football and in order to achieve that everyone at the club will need to pull in the same direction.
Harewood was part of the last Reds team to enjoy top-flight football.
He clearly knows all about O’Neill’s qualities and with sufficient time believes he can achieve the dream for Forest.