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“This emblem is bigger than every manager,” the new Forest boss stated at his introduction as Nottingham Forest’s head coach, sporting a training top with his initials. He then, amended his statement. Actually, there was one manager who was probably as big as the badge – everyone recognizes who that was.”} Following that, an imitation of the legendary manager, an attempt at that distinctive accent. “‘Young ginger, well done,’” he recalled, reminiscing about his three years as a trainee at the club's stadium, the period he spent wandering down the Trent, with Clough’s labrador, whizzing past him and his manager’s voice always within hearing range.

Dyche shares a anecdote of how, as a youngster, he and a few others looked after Clough’s yard at his residence in the area. “We were on £28.50 a week and he gave you a tenner to do his lawn. So we really thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d cook for you and ensure you were cared for. It was quite fun, not too much yard work.”

For Dyche, the appointment has been a years in the making. He resides in the city and has a fondness for the club. In recent years, he and his long-term coach Ian Woan, who was a member of the Nottingham Forest side the last time they were in European competition, in the mid-90s, have occasionally visited the West Bridgford coffee shop where club icons such as a former player, Colin Barrett and a famous name gather every Thursday to talk old and new tales. He will have to give it a miss this week to prepare for the visit of Porto, undefeated this campaign, in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

I can't wait to seeing the miracle men,” remarked Dyche, who succeeded the previous coach to become the team's third head coach of the season. “They will give me a bit of ear-holing if I don’t do too well, so I must win some matches for them. Those guys mean a lot to me. A lot of supporters recognise the history of this institution. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a opportunity to reinvent my own history, I suppose, as manager.”

Dyche took Forest practice for the initial session on Tuesday, a short while after his predecessor watched a 3‑0 home loss by the London club that left the side in the top division drop zone. the club captain, who joined as a child, acknowledged these are early days but he and his staff have eased some of the gloom.

His staff features one more club icon in a former player, as well as a coach and Tony Loughlan, both of whom played for the club. “I feel like a huge asset of this organization is fostering the connection between the supporters, squad and coach and, let’s be honest, the recent period we haven’t had a positive atmosphere around here,” Yates stated. Dyche and his staff have brought that feeling of vitality and energy.”

Dyche emphasized he does not understand the team like the back of my hand” given his most recent experience at the club has been as an opposition manager, but he believes he has a broader understanding of the environment and expectations. The guidelines have been set. “I’ve let them wear light-colored footwear, for heaven's sake,” the manager 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 compromise somewhere.”

Forest have been defeated in their past four matches and failed to secure a victory since the opening day. The coach said the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, understood the importance of stabilising the situation. Dyche faced the Greek billionaire in the European competition with his former club, when his team were beaten in a playoff against Olympiakos in recent years. Following the initial match he expressed frustration at club officials, among them Marinakis, approaching the referees at the break in the stadium. We laughed about it,” he recalled.

One aspect of Dyche’s attraction is his reputation for building sides with strong foundations, pertinent for a team without a clean sheet 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 rely on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Tight trousers, wide-leg pants, slim fits, bell-bottoms … my daughter hammers me for any trousers I wear. It seems on social media even I got some criticism for my trainers walking into training [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, anyway, don’t like to bring it up it.”

Dyche is proud that his early career were at Forest but thinks that should not mean he or his team are judged in a special way. “There’s no shortcut with the fans, but we are committed, that’s one thing I don’t think can ever be doubted,” he said. “All I dreamt of was putting on the jersey, but I never got to achieve it. Steve Stone and Ian Woan did, Billy Mercer did as a loan keeper, Tony Loughlan featured and scored a goal. I was the sole person who failed to and they keep reminding me of that.

“For me to have that connection of it is a big thing for me individually. But it doesn’t give me a divine right, believe me. The supporters want me to win. If I’m failing, the fans are going to come at me because that’s the way fans behave and I’ve got no problem with that because that’s the reality. I was here as a youth and never wore the kit, the badge. Now, now, I’m sitting with it wearing it.”