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The emblem is more significant than every manager,” the new Forest boss stated at his introduction as Nottingham Forest’s head coach, wearing a training top with his monogram. He then, amended his statement. Actually, there was a single manager who was likely as big as the crest – everyone recognizes who that was.”} Following that, an imitation of Brian Clough, an attempt at that distinctive drawl. “‘Young ginger, well done,’” he said, reliving his time as a trainee at the club's stadium, the period he spent wandering down the Trent, with Del Boy, dashing past him and his boss's voice invariably within earshot.

The coach tells a story of how, as a youth player, he and a few others looked after Clough’s yard at his home in Quarndon. Our weekly wage was minimal and he paid you a ten pounds to do his lawn. So we actually thought: ‘This is pretty good.’ He’d prepare food for you and ensure you were cared for. It was rather enjoyable, not too much yard work.”

For Dyche, the appointment has been a long time in the making. He resides in the area and has a fondness for the club. In lately, he and his longstanding coach Ian Woan, who was a member of the Forest side the last time they were in Europe, in the mid-90s, have sometimes popped into the local cafe where Forest legends such as a former player, another stalwart and a famous name meet every Thursday to discuss stories from past and present. He will have to skip it this week to prepare for the visit of Porto, undefeated this campaign, in the Europa League on this week.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the miracle men,” said Dyche, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou to become Forest’s third manager of the season. I'll get an earful if I don’t do too well, so I better secure some matches for them. Those fellows are important to me. A great deal of Forest fans appreciate the legacy of this institution. I have personal ties and now I’ve got a chance to reinvent my personal story, I guess, as coach.”

Dyche oversaw the team training for the first time on this week, three days after Postecoglou oversaw a 3‑0 at home defeat by the London club that left the side in the top division relegation zone. Ryan Yates, who came as a child, admitted these are just the start but he and his staff have eased some of the gloom.

Dyche’s backroom team features another club icon in a former player, as well as a coach and Tony Loughlan, both of whom featured for the team. In my view a huge strength of this club is fostering the connection between the fans, players and manager and, let’s be honest, the recent period we lacked a positive feeling around here,” Yates stated. Dyche and his assistants have introduced that sense of life and energy.”

Dyche made clear he doesn't understand the team like the inside out” considering his latest experience at Forest has been as an opposition manager, but he believes he has a wider understanding of the place and demands. The guidelines have been set. I allowed the players wear white socks, for heaven's sake,” Dyche commented. I expect my ex-players caning me on messaging. But they’re forbidden to wear neck warmers or hats … I had to do a compromise somewhere.”

The team have lost their past four matches and not won since the start of the season. Dyche said the proprietor, the Greek businessman, understood the importance of stabilising things. He faced the wealthy individual in the European competition with his former club, when his team were beaten in a playoff against Olympiakos in recent years. After the first leg he expressed frustration at Olympiakos dignitaries, including Marinakis, confronting the referees at the break in the stadium. “We had a bit of a giggle,” he said.

One aspect of Dyche’s attraction is his reputation for constructing teams with solid foundations, relevant for a side without a clean sheet in many games. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not concerned,” he stated. “I’ve never tried to hide behind what’s successful. It’s no badge of honour to me. In the past people were saying: ‘Why do you rely on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Tight trousers, wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, flared jeans … my daughter hammers me for any trousers I wear. It seems on social media even I got some criticism for my trainers arriving at training [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. A brand [trainers] but, regardless, don’t like to mention it.”

The manager is pleased that his early career were at Forest but believes that should not mean he or his team are judged in a special way. “There’s no shortcut with the supporters, but we are committed, that’s one thing I believe can ever be questioned,” he remarked. “All I dreamt of was putting on the jersey, but I didn't manage to do it. Stoney and Woany succeeded, Billy Mercer did as a loan goalkeeper, Tony wore it and scored a strike. I was the only one who didn’t and they keep reminding me of that.

“For me to have that part of it is a significant matter for me individually. But it doesn’t give me a special privilege, trust me. The supporters expect me to win. If I’m failing, the fans are going to criticize me because how fans work and I’ve got no issue with that because that’s the reality. I was at the club as a youth and didn't get to wear the shirt, the badge. Well, now, I’m sitting with it on me.”