Postecoglou confesses joining Nottingham Forest was a poor choice

Ange Postecoglou has accepted full responsibility for his very short tenure as Nottingham Forest manager, admitting that accepting the role with the struggling Premier League side was a mistake.

The 60-year-old Australian took over from Nuno Espirito Santo in September.

However, the famously demanding Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis dismissed him after only 39 days, following six defeats in the eight matches Postecoglou oversaw.

Discussing his Forest experience on the Overlap podcast, Postecoglou pointed to his haste to return to management after leaving Tottenham Hotspur three months prior as the main reason for his difficulties at the City Ground.

"It makes no sense for me to point fingers at lack of time or similar issues," Postecoglou explained. "I ought not to have accepted that position. That was entirely my error. I must own up to it.

"Coming so soon after Tottenham was unwise. I stepped into a setup accustomed to their established methods, yet I intended to introduce my own approach. I have to accept that it was my misjudgement. No one else bears the blame."

Currently clubless, Postecoglou has dismissed any possibility of rejoining Celtic, where he had a fruitful two-year period from 2021 to 2023, as 73-year-old Martin ONeill serves as interim manager for the Scottish champions through the season's end.

"Celtic holds a special place for me, it is a fantastic club," said Postecoglou, who moved from Glasgow to Spurs. "Had I been younger, I might have remained longer, perhaps three or four years.

"I believe we could have advanced further in European competitions, but reaching that level had taken me considerable time, and the chance at Tottenham proved irresistible.

"Regarding a return, that is not my style. It has never fitted my career path. 

"My next venture will be fresh territory, a place where I can leave a mark and secure victories, though my fondness for Celtic stays undiminished."