Report: Nottingham Forest ready to pay £250,000 for Paul Heckingbottom; have also considered Monk and Pearson

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Nottingham Forest are still searching for their new manager, but may well be closing in on their man.

According to a report from The Sun on Sunday (print edition; 7th January 2018; page 67), Nottingham Forest are ready to meet Barnsley’s demands regarding a compensation fee for Paul Heckingbottom, while the Championship side have also previously considered Garry Monk and Nigel Pearson for the post.

Forest are currently without a permanent manager after parting company with Mark Warburton following their final game of 2017, which ended in a 1-0 home defeat to the division’s bottom side Sunderland.

Gary Brazil has taken charge in the interim and has done his chances of getting the job on a permanent basis – if he wants the role – no harm at all, it seems, with a goalless draw at play-off chasing Leeds United being followed by a stunning win over Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.

But it appears that the Forest hierarchy have their eye on Tykes boss Heckingbottom, with The Sun on Sunday (print edition; 7th January 2018; page 67) reporting that they are prepared to pay the £250,000 that Barnsley want for their manager.

The Sun on Sunday adds that Forest have also considered Nigel Pearson – who briefly managed at Derby County – and Garry Monk, but Heckingbottom is reportedly interested in the post.

Given the job that he has done at Oakwell, it would arguably be a great appointment if Forest managed to get it across the line. And with the City Ground outfit hardly in the worst position they have been in in recent years – they are 11 points off the top six with 20 games left – perhaps it may not be too late for the next manager to inspire a play-off push.