adminNottingham Forest’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday has left the club rooted in the Premier League relegation zone and intensified speculation surrounding the future of manager Oliver Glasner. Despite only arriving at the City Ground in July, the Austrian now finds himself under significant pressure, with bookmakers identifying a clear frontrunner to replace him should Evangelos Marinakis decide to act.
The defeat to the Gunners, courtesy of a late deflected Noni Madueke strike, condemned Forest to another week without a home win or even a goal at the City Ground this season . The result leaves the club 18th in the table with just five points from seven matches, a start that has prompted uncomfortable questions for a side that harboured ambitions of pushing toward European contention .
Glasner’s Position Under Scrutiny
Glasner was appointed as Forest’s fifth manager in under a year, succeeding Vítor Pereira, after earning widespread acclaim for guiding Crystal Palace to FA Cup and Conference League glory . However, the transition to the City Ground has been fraught. Forest have managed just one league victory all season, and the attacking fluidity that characterised Glasner’s Palace side has been conspicuously absent.
The Austrian has publicly acknowledged the difficulties, insisting after the Arsenal defeat that there is no need to panic, though he conceded that results must improve swiftly . Behind the scenes, the relationship between Glasner and owner Marinakis—described by club legend Stan Collymore as “not a marriage made in heaven”—is reportedly being tested by the poor start . Marinakis has shown little patience with managers in the past, having overseen four managerial changes during the 2025-26 campaign alone .
The Emerging Favourite
According to the latest betting markets, the clear favourite to become the next permanent Nottingham Forest manager—should Glasner depart—is Michael Carrick. The former Manchester United midfielder has emerged as the leading candidate among bookmakers, though his immediate future is complicated by the fact that he is currently under pressure himself in the Premier League sack race .
Carrick’s odds shortened significantly following Forest’s defeat to Arsenal, with market movers identifying him as the most likely target for Marinakis should the club opt for a change . His appeal lies in his reputation for progressive, possession-based football and his experience working within high-expectation environments at Old Trafford, attributes that align with Marinakis’s stated desire to build a side capable of competing for major honours .
However, any move for Carrick would not be straightforward. He remains contracted to his current club, and Forest would likely face competition or compensation demands. Alternative names circulating in betting markets include Roberto De Zerbi and Álvaro Arbeloa, though neither is currently priced as favourably as Carrick .
What Happens Next
Forest’s next fixture takes on added significance. With the club yet to score at home this season, Glasner needs an immediate upturn in results to convince Marinakis that he remains the right man to lead the project. The owner’s track record suggests that patience is a finite resource, and another defeat could accelerate the decision-making process.
For now, Glasner retains public backing from within the dressing room, and his pedigree—two major trophies in two seasons at Selhurst Park—offers a reminder of his capabilities . Yet football is a results-driven industry, and at a club where managerial stability has been in short supply, the margin for error is razor-thin.
As the international break approaches, the next few matches will determine whether Glasner gets the opportunity to turn Forest’s season around or whether Marinakis turns to the man bookmakers now consider the clear favourite to take his place.
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