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The badge is more significant than every manager,” the new Forest boss declared at his introduction as the club's head coach, sporting a training top with his monogram. He then, corrected himself. “Well, there was one manager who was likely as big as the crest – we all know who that was.”} Then came, an imitation of the legendary manager, an attempt at that unique drawl. Lad, well done,’” he recalled, reminiscing about his time as a youth player at the club's stadium, the period he spent wandering down the Trent, with Del Boy, whizzing past him and his manager’s voice invariably within hearing range.

Dyche shares a anecdote of how, as a youth player, he and a few others tended the manager's yard at his home in the area. “We were on £28.50 a week and he gave you a ten pounds to do his lawn. So we really thought: ‘This is pretty good.’ He’d cook for you and ensure you were cared for. It was rather enjoyable, not too much yard work.”

For Dyche, the appointment has been a years in the making. He lives in the area and has a fondness for the team. In recent years, he and his longstanding assistant Ian Woan, who was part of the Forest side the last time they were in Europe, in 1995‑96, have sometimes visited the West Bridgford coffee shop where club icons such as Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and Garry Birtles gather every Thursday to discuss stories from past and present. He will have to give it a miss this week to prepare for the visit of the Portuguese side, unbeaten this campaign, in the Europa League on this week.

I can't wait to seeing the club legends,” said Dyche, who replaced the previous coach to become Forest’s third manager of the term. I'll get an earful if I fail to deliver, so I better win some games for them. Those fellows mean a lot to me. A great deal of supporters appreciate the legacy of this club. I have personal ties and now I’ve got a opportunity to reshape my own history, I guess, as coach.”

Dyche oversaw the team practice for the first time on this week, three days after his predecessor watched a 3‑0 home loss by Chelsea that left the side in the Premier League relegation zone. Ryan Yates, who came aged eight, acknowledged these are just the start but Dyche and his team have alleviated some of the negativity.

Dyche’s staff includes one more club icon in Steve Stone, as well as Billy Mercer and another staff member, who featured for the team. “I feel like a massive asset of this organization is fostering the bond between the supporters, squad and manager and, frankly, the last few weeks we lacked a positive feeling around here,” Yates stated. Dyche and his staff have introduced that feeling of vitality and energy.”

He emphasized he doesn't understand the club like the back of my hand” given his latest encounter at Forest has been as an rival manager, but he thinks he has a broader understanding of the place and demands. The guidelines have been laid. “I’ve let them wear light-colored footwear, for goodness sake,” Dyche said. “I’ll have my former teammates caning me on messaging. But they’re not allowed to wear neck warmers or headgear … I had to make a deal somewhere.”

Forest have been defeated in their last four matches and failed to secure a victory since the opening day. Dyche mentioned the proprietor, Evangelos Marinakis, recognised the importance of stabilising things. He faced the Greek billionaire in the European competition with Burnley, when his side were beaten in a qualifier against Olympiakos in 2018. After the first leg he expressed anger at club officials, including Marinakis, confronting the officials at half-time in Piraeus. We laughed about it,” he recalled.

Part of Dyche’s appeal is his reputation for constructing teams with solid bases, relevant for a team without a shutout in 20 matches. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not bothered,” he said. I don't avoid behind what’s successful. It’s no point of pride to me. Five years ago people were going: ‘Why do you depend on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Skinny jeans, wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, bell-bottoms … my child hammers me for any trousers I wear. Apparently on online platforms even I got some criticism for my trainers walking into training [on Tuesday] … couldn’t believe that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, regardless, don’t like to bring it up it.”

The manager is pleased that his formative years were at Forest but thinks that should not mean he or his team are judged differently. No easy path with the fans, but we do care, that’s one thing I don’t think can ever be questioned,” he remarked. “All I dreamt of was wearing the jersey, but I never got to achieve it. Steve Stone and Ian Woan succeeded, Billy Mercer played as a temporary goalkeeper, Tony Loughlan wore it and scored a strike. I was the sole person who failed to and they constantly tell me of that.

“In my case to have that connection of it is a significant matter for me personally. But it doesn't grant me a special privilege, trust me. The supporters expect me to succeed. If I’m not winning, the fans are going to come at me because how supporters work and I’ve got no issue with that because it's the truth. I was here as a kid and never wore the kit, the emblem. Well, now, I’m sitting with it on me.”