Nottingham Forest fans react as former target Gary Rowett nears Derby County

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Rowett was seemingly on the verge of taking over at Nottingham Forest – now he looks likely to replace Steve McClaren at rivals Derby County.

Gary Rowett is looking certain to take his place in the dugout ahead of a huge East Midlands’ clash between Nottingham Forest and Derby County on Saturday afternoon. Though few expected the 43-year-old to turn up on the white side of the city.

According to the Nottingham Post, the 43-year-old, arguably the most sought-after manager outside of the Premier League, would have had been donning the Forest crest on his suit jacket had the proposed takeover of the club by American tycoon John Jay Moores not collapsed at the eleventh hour in January.

And, in a cruel twist of fate, the club’s first choice managerial candidate could instead be plotting a way to beat them on Saturday and intensify the gloom hanging over the City Ground. According to the BBC, Rowett is set to replace Steve McClaren at the helm ahead of a fixture which could have huge ramifications for a Forest side sitting just two points above the relegation zone.

Salt, meet wounds.

After all, Forest fans have not forgotten the fact that Rowett took charge at Birmingham City, a club in the mire and heading in only one direction, before dragging them up the table to the verge of the play-offs within two seasons, all while working within the confines of a restrictive budget.

If anything, Rowett had already passed his audition at Forest.

Then again, with the Nottingham Post reporting that Mark Warburton will arrive at the City Ground within the next 24 hours, the blow of missing out on Rowett to their local rivals has been softened somewhat.

Warburton may have been recently sacked by Rangers but he is proven in the Championship following an excellent spell with Brentford and an exponent of expansive, easy-on-the-eye football – more so than the pragmatic former Blues boss anyway.

Suddenly, Saturday’s clash is looking a very different proposition indeed.