Former Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has been appointed the new Nottingham Forest manager.
Republic of Ireland international Jonathan Walters has stated that he cannot see why Martin O’Neill’s appointment at Nottingham Forest won’t work.
Forest confirmed on their official website on Tuesday morning that their two-time European Cup winning player has replaced Aitor Karanka in the dugout.
Ipswich striker Walters claimed that it was ‘strange’ seeing Karanka leave the Forest Ground this month despite the club sitting outside of the playoff places.
Nonetheless, Walters, who worked under O’Neill during his years with the Irish national side, offered his thoughts on his former manager moving back into club management.
“I think it’s a good match,” Walter told the Alan Brazil Breakfast show on 15/01/2019 at 9:50 am. “He knows the club inside out. The fans will take to him straight away because of what he has done at the club.
“It’s a strange one with Karanka [leaving] being seventh in the league, so they are not a bad team – I don’t see why it shouldn’t work.”
Recently, O’Neill was working on the international stage where he was helped the Republic of Ireland reach Euro 2016, but recent struggles including failing to reach last summer’s World Cup in Russia cost him his job.
During his club career, the newly-appointed Forest manager represented Scottish Premiership side Celtic and English trio Leicester City, Aston Villa and Sunderland.
In the mid to late noughties, he helped Villa to three consecutive top-six finishes in the Premier League as he will be hoping to guide Forest back to the promised land.
At this moment in time, they are three places and four points outside of the Championship’s top six as they will host Bristol City at the weekend.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
