The Right of an Owner: Analyzing Nottingham Forest's Managerial Changes Under Evangelos Marinakis
Former Nottingham Forest star Marlon Harewood explains why Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis has every right to hire and fire managers in pursuit of success. Another former player, Rob Earnshaw, supports Marinakis' hands-on approach at the club. Explore the dynamics behind the owner's decisions and the impact on the team.

Former Nottingham Forest star Marlon Harewood has told GOAL why Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis has every right to hire and fire managers, having worked through four in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign. Unwanted history has been made there, but the enigmatic Greek billionaire will stop at nothing in a bid to ensure that results on the field match his ambition off the pitch.Marinakis arrived at the City Ground in 2017 boasting grand plans for returning Forest to the top table of domestic and continental football. He has delivered on that remit, with promotion out of the Championship in 2022 bringing a 23-year absence from the Premier League to a close.Under the guidance of Nuno Espirito Santo, the Reds finished seventh in the 2024-25 campaign - earning them a place in the Europa League, as European competition returned to Trentside for the first time in three decades.That success has not been the building block that Forest had hoped it would be, with Nuno, Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche all calling shots during the 2025-26 season. Vitor Pereira is now at the helm and has picked up just one win - in his opening game - through seven matches.More movement in the dugout could be on the cards this summer, with City Ground academy graduate Harewood - speaking in association with https://uudetkasino.com/ - telling GOAL of why Marinakis is well within his rights to keep chopping and changing: “Yeah, 100%. It's like anyone. If you were the owner of your club and you're a very ambitious person and you want to win games and you want to do well, and you've been in a situation where he's seen that and Forest have done that, like the season before where they were third, second in the table, top of the table. He's seen that and he's like, well, that's what I want. And you want to continue that. And if it's not happening, he's going to do everything he can to make that happen. And that's what he's done.“He wants that because he's seen that happen and he's capable of doing it. So I think he's trying to find the right formula in managers that are available to do that. Which is bad to say because it's horrible on the managers that are coming in. Some really good managers, and they probably are fantastic guys, but it's hard to talk about because you don't want repercussions nowadays because you can't really say anything to anybody or have an opinion about things. But that's just the nature of the beast that Forest are in at the moment.“And with the managers and the owner of the club, that's what he wants to achieve. And if you're not achieving it, that's his philosophy. At the end of the day, that's what he wants to do. You can't say anything about it. It's up to him.“It's obviously his choice. It's his money. Whatever he chooses to do. Obviously, he wants to see Forest on a high pedestal, and they're not producing at the moment. And if you're not producing, he has to think why they're not. And in that situation, the manager is the person that normally gets it.”Another former Reds striker, Rob Earnshaw, told GOAL recently of why he has no problem with Marinakis interfering with every aspect of the club that he owns: “When Mr Marinakis comes on the pitch and he’s greeting players in the tunnel, for me there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Also, in Greece, when you are the owner, you are entitled to go in the dressing room, to go on the pitch, it’s part of the game as you come and be part of it - you speak with the players and you are the man in the middle. As the owner, you get a better feeling of what’s going on inside the football club.“I have no problem with it and think Mr Marinakis has done a fantastic job. He is of course very ruthless and very determined, very direct in his ways, but he has taken this football club - in the last five/six years - into where it should be, in the Premier League, playing in Europe and having big European nights, playing in the Premier League and having the chance to go to the Champions League. Those moments are what every Forest fan wants to happen.“I enjoy it. I enjoy him being involved. I think it’s been unbelievable and he deserves a lot of credit because he hasn’t just invested in the football club, he has fully invested himself in order to take the club to be successful. It has been a hell of a journey, a hell of a few years, but it wouldn’t be Forest if it was boring and we didn’t have personalities.“Football is about personalities, so I love that. They shouldn’t just be sat there and you never hear from them in the box. They are part of the football club and their personality comes out. I’m all for that.”Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingHaving savoured the highs of competing for European qualification, Forest now find themselves locked in another relegation battle. Only goal difference is keeping them out of the drop zone with eight Premier League fixtures left to be taken in this season - with the first of those being a potentially make-or-break clash with fellow strugglers Tottenham in north London on Sunday.
The Journey of Evangelos Marinakis at Nottingham Forest
Evangelos Marinakis took over Nottingham Forest in 2017 with a vision to elevate the club back to its glory days in both domestic and European competitions. Achieving promotion to the Premier League in 2022 marked a significant milestone in Forest's history.
Managerial Turbulence in the 2025-26 Season
Despite finishing seventh in the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo in the 2024-25 season, subsequent managerial changes have left Forest struggling in the ongoing campaign. Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche followed, with Vitor Pereira now at the helm.
Player Insights: Defending Marinakis' Decisions
Former Forest stars Marlon Harewood and Rob Earnshaw have voiced their support for Marinakis' managerial decisions. Harewood highlights the owner's ambition for success, acknowledging the tough decisions made to achieve the desired outcomes.
The Owner's Involvement: A Hands-On Approach
Rob Earnshaw defends Marinakis' active involvement in the club's affairs, emphasizing the owner's hands-on approach as crucial in understanding the team dynamics. He commends Marinakis for his relentless pursuit of success and investment in Forest's growth.
Current Scenario and Future Prospects
With Nottingham Forest facing a relegation battle in the Premier League, the pressure is mounting on the team to secure their top-flight status. The upcoming fixtures, including a crucial clash with Tottenham, will be pivotal in determining the club's fate this season.




