Nottingham Forest: Steve Cooper has 'sympathy' behind-the-scenes at City Ground

Nottingham Forest hold a ‘degree of sympathy’ for manager Steve Cooper after a tough start to the season, amid reports his job could be at risk at the City Ground, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Leicester City put their East Midlands rivals to the sword on Monday night, sending Forest to the foot of the Premier League table with a 4-0 triumph.

Cooper led Forest back into the English top flight for the first time in 23 years when he masterminded a Championship play-off victory last season.

But, with eight matches played this term, he has racked up just four points, losing six matches and scoring only six goals in the process.

In the wake of the latest defeat, it is understood that Forest are considering a move for former Everton and Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez, with Sean Dyche also a contender.

Owner Evangelos Marinakis has also reportedly withdrawn a contract offer that had been on the table for Cooper, according to MailOnline, as he ponders his next move.

A report from The Telegraph has detailed that it is not just the manager who is at risk at the City Ground, however, with the club’s recruitment team and chief executive Dane Murphy also under scrutiny.

Sheth understands that, despite these reports, there does remain a slither of sympathy for Cooper at the club.

The Sky Sports reporter adds that the former Swansea boss’s task was made all the tougher by having to integrate a raft of new signings.

Sheth told GIVEMESPORT: “I think there is a degree of sympathy for him. Yes, he was involved in all of those signings but they are now eight games into a new Premier League season, in a league they haven’t been promoted to for 23 years and, once promoted, another set of ambitions kick in, asking ‘Is