Michael Mancienne has a theory behind what was killing Nottingham Forest

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Nottingham Forest defender Michael Mancienne has featured in four league matches so far this season.

Michael Mancienne has suggested to the Telegraph that Nottingham Forest’s chances of being successful were being killed by the previous regime.

Forest changed hands this summer, with Evangelos Marinakis taking control of the Midlands club.

And Mancienne believes that Marinakis’ arrival, combined with Mark Warburton’s appointment as manager, has breathed fresh life into Forest.

“It’s been a rollercoaster, I’m just glad the club finally feels stable now,” the former Chelsea trainee said.

“The team has got more of an identity when we play and everything seems to be clicking into place.

“The lack of stability [under the old regime] was killing the team. We weren’t getting paid on time, it affects the players who have got mortgages to pay and then you’re playing for someone who’s not respecting you. The little things added up and people don’t realise how much that damages the team.

“Thankfully it’s all changing now and we’ve got no excuses. We’ve got a good manager [Mark Warburton], good ownership and the training ground is improving every single week.”

Mancienne started the first three games of the season for Forest as captain, but has not featured in any of Warburton’s side’s last four league matches.

Whether Mancienne will come back into Forest’s team for their match against Chelsea in the League Cup this evening remains to be seen.

Forest have already knocked out one Premier League side in this season’s League Cup in the form of Newcastle United, but tonight’s contest is likely to be an even tougher test.

The Reds go into the match against Chelsea on the back of a 2-1 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, which has left them sitting in 10th place in the Championship table.