Michael Dawson has praised Nottingham Forest for their decision to hand Steve Cooper a new contract.
The former Reds star was on Soccer Saturday yesterday and regular host Jeff Stelling quizzed him on the situation.
Forest have lost five games on the spin and speculation had been rife after a 4-0 thrashing to Leicester.
Rafa Benitez, Bruno Lage and Nuno Espirito Santo were all among a list of reported underwhelming targets for Forest.
Now, Cooper will be handed time to turn things around and has put pen to paper on an extension until 2025.
Dawson told Sky Sports News: “It’s only what he deserved from the day he got them promoted.
“I said last week that it should have been cleared up. The rumour mill started up, of course, given the way they lost to Leicester.
“I worried for him. What I don’t like at any club is that managers were being linked and there is still a manager in there.
“The message to me and the message to everyone out there is that Steve Cooper is still the manager of this team.
“When I saw it flash up yesterday I was delighted. One for him, one for the fans and one for clarity and the message it sends out.”
Forest praised by Dawson after Cooper news
The Reds have done well to get Cooper tied down to a new contract.
Wolves and Southampton had been thought to be monitoring the situation regarding the manager, with Middlesbrough also keen.
Now, the speculation stops and Forest have to start winning football matches.
Dawson had two spells at Forest and is arguably one of the best players to ever emerge from the club’s academy.
He still cares deeply about the football club and as a real football man it’s great he backs the decision.
Cooper achieved something that no other manager could do in 23 years on Trentside and the board have hit the jackpot with this decision.
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