Steve Cooper jets out to Athens for talks as Nottingham Forest look to secure new contract

Nottingham Forest are close to securing the services of manager Steve Cooper on a new contract to provide a major boost to the newly promoted Premier League club.

Cooper has flown out to Athens for talks with owner Evangelos Marinakis over Forest’s transfer plans, claims The Telegraph, and negotiations are also expected to advance over an improved long-term deal for the 42-year-old manager. The former Swansea boss oversaw an incredible turnaround in fortunes for the Reds last season, taking over a club bottom of the Championship in September and leading them to promotion via the play-off final.

He has just over a year left on his existing contract but Forest are moving to reward the Welshman with improved terms to reflect his vast importance to the club.Cooper is also relishing the prospect of leading Forest into a new era and is determined to build on the club’s progress, having already begun talks with potential new signings in a bid to strengthen his City Ground squad.

After last month’s victory over Huddersfield, Cooper outlined his ambitions for the future as Forest prepare for their first season in the top-flight since 1999.

He said: “The players deserve the opportunity to be in the Premier League and there’s no doubt we deserved to get promoted.

“I’m really proud of the football club and we’ve reminded the world how big and how special this club is.

“We’ve been desperate for something like this and over the past eight or nine months we’ve built a really strong connection with the supporters.”