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The badge is more significant than any manager,” the new Forest boss declared at his unveiling as Nottingham Forest’s manager, wearing a training kit with his initials. He then, corrected himself. Actually, there was one manager who was likely as big as the badge – we all know who that was.”} Then came, an imitation of the legendary manager, a crack at that distinctive accent. Lad, well done,’” he said, reliving his three years as a trainee at the City Ground, the period he spent wandering down the Trent, with Clough’s labrador, whizzing past him and his manager’s voice invariably within hearing range.

The coach shares a story of how, as a youth player, he and a couple of mates tended the manager's yard at his residence in the area. “We were on £28.50 a week and he paid you a ten pounds to do his lawn. So we really thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d cook for you and make sure you were well looked after. It was quite enjoyable, not too much gardening.”

For Dyche, the appointment has been a long time in the making. He lives in the city and has a affection for the team. In recent years, he and his long-term coach his deputy, who was a member of the Nottingham Forest side the last time they were in Europe, in the mid-90s, have occasionally popped into the West Bridgford cafe where club icons such as a former player, another stalwart and Garry Birtles meet every week to discuss old and new tales. He will have to give it a miss this week to prepare for the visit of the Portuguese side, unbeaten this campaign, in the European tournament on this week.

I can't wait to seeing the miracle men,” remarked Dyche, who replaced the previous coach to become Forest’s latest manager of the season. “They will give me a bit of ear-holing if I fail to deliver, so I better win some matches for them. Those fellows are important to me. A great deal of supporters appreciate the history of this institution. I have personal ties and now I’ve got a chance to reinvent my own history, I suppose, as manager.”

Dyche oversaw Forest training for the initial session on Tuesday, three days after his predecessor watched a 3‑0 at home loss by the London club that placed the club in the top division drop zone. Ryan Yates, who joined as a child, admitted these are early days but Dyche and his team have alleviated some of the negativity.

Dyche’s backroom team features one more Forest hero in a former player, as well as Billy Mercer and Tony Loughlan, who played for the club. In my view a massive strength of this organization is fostering the bond between the supporters, players and manager and, let’s be honest, the last few weeks we lacked a good atmosphere around here,” Yates stated. “The new manager and his staff have introduced that feeling of life and energy.”

Dyche emphasized he doesn't understand the club like the back of my hand” considering his most recent experience at the club has been as an opposition manager, but he thinks he has a broader grasp of the environment and expectations. The house rules have been laid. “I’ve let them wear white socks, for heaven's sake,” Dyche said. “I’ll have my former teammates caning me on messaging. But they’re not allowed to wear neck warmers or hats … I had to do a deal somewhere.”

The team have been defeated in their last four matches and failed to secure a victory since the opening day. Dyche said the proprietor, the Greek businessman, recognised the importance of steadying things. He encountered the Greek billionaire in the Europa League with Burnley, when his team were beaten in a qualifier against Olympiakos in 2018. Following the initial match Dyche voiced frustration at Olympiakos dignitaries, among them the owner, approaching the officials at the break in Piraeus. We laughed about it,” he said.

Part of Dyche’s attraction is his image for constructing teams with strong bases, relevant for a team without a shutout in 20 matches. People categorize me, I’m not concerned,” he stated. I don't avoid behind what’s successful. It’s no badge of honour to me. Five years ago people were going: ‘Why do you depend on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Tight trousers, wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, bell-bottoms … my daughter hammers me for whatever jeans I wear. Apparently on social media even I got some criticism for my shoes walking into practice [on Tuesday] … couldn’t believe that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, regardless, prefer not to bring it up it.”

Dyche is pleased that his formative years were at Forest but believes that should not mean he or his staff are evaluated in a special way. No easy path with the supporters, but we are committed, that’s one thing I don’t think can ever be doubted,” he said. My only aspiration was putting on the jersey, but I didn't manage to do it. Steve Stone and Woany did, Billy Mercer did as a temporary goalkeeper, Tony wore it and scored a goal. I was the sole person who failed to and they keep reminding me of that.

“In my case to have that connection of it is a big thing 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 come at me because that’s the way fans behave and I’ve got no issue with that because that’s the reality. I was here as a kid and never wore the shirt, the emblem. Well, currently, I’m sitting with it on me.”