Sabri Lamouchi is yet to pen a contract extension at Nottingham Forest, but a signature on a piece of paper is surely all that is missing at the City Ground.
The Frenchman is fully committed to the Reds.
Which is music to the ears of those who have offered him a warm embrace on Trentside.
Few knew what to expect when the 48-year-old was appointed within a matter of minutes of Martin O’Neill’s reign coming to a close.
Any early nerves quickly evaporated.
Lamouchi has been a breath of fresh air.
He is now dangerously close to achieving what no Forest boss has managed in the best part of a decade.
Whisper it quietly, but the Reds may be about to go an entire season without making a change in the dugout.
With there the promise of a familiar face sticking around for some time yet.
Future
Original Image: Nottingham Forest/Graphic Design: Beth Davenport
Lamouchi has said in the Nottingham Post when quizzed on his future: “My desire is to stay here for a long time. I can’t say more than that.
“I have this responsibility, but for me to focus on the right things is very important. If I think only about my contract, it is a big mistake.
“My contract is not so important. Myself, I am not so important. But what we want to realise, all together, is so important because we will keep that for the rest of our lives.
“My contract is only for me. But to realise this all together, now, it is totally different – especially here, at this club, an amazing club with fantastic fans.”
Lamouchi is determined to take Forest back to the Promised Land.
Deliver Premier League football and he will lock down a place in City Ground folklore.
The only other men to have guided the Reds through spells at that level are Brian Clough, Frank Clark, Dave Bassett and Ron Atkinson.
With Stuart Pearce and Micky Adams taking interim charge at various intervals.
All of the above are well versed in the demands of English football and know what it takes to be successful.
Challenge
Lamouchi was a novice when he arrived.
Yes, he had played at the highest level and coached at a World Cup finals and Ligue 1 in France, but the Championship was a whole new world.
He quickly weighed up the challenge in front of him and set about conquering it.
We are now 13 games away from a potentially thrilling climax.
With the possibility there for three outings to come after that in the play-offs.
If Lamouchi were to take Forest back to the Premier League, he could pretty much dictate his own terms.
A blank cheque would be presented to him.
And he would thoroughly deserve it.
He arrived looking for a good time and can be expected to be granted his wish of sticking around for a long one.