Ange Postecoglou Leaves Nottingham Forest: What Happened in Tunnel Before Sacking

The 3-0 loss to Chelsea was the final straw for Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who chose to cut ways with Ange Postecoglou. The club’s decision-maker-in-chief promptly fired the Athens-born 60-year-old following the match, and TNT Sports broadcaster Jules Breach has now revealed what happened in the tunnel just minutes before he was fired.

Postecoglou’s men were far brighter in the first 45 minutes at the City Ground, but finding the back of the net remained their main difficulty. The second half was a completely different scenario, with Enzo Maresca’s Blues rediscovering their footing and opening the score in the 49th minute through Josh Acheampong.

Pedro Neto then increased the away side’s lead before Reece James scored a third, and Marinakis, a polarising personality in football circles, believed Postecoglou, who succeeded Nuno Espirito Santo as manager, was no longer the right man for the job. Roberto Mancini and Sean Dyche are currently being explored.

Postecoglou’s 39-day stint was cut short by a 39-word message from the club, which had brilliantly secured European football under Santo last season, following the match. “Nottingham Forest Football Club can declare that, following a string of poor results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been dismissed of his duties as head coach, effective immediately. The Club will not make any additional comments at this time.

TNT Sports Reporter Reveals What Happened in Tunnel Moments Before Postecoglou was Sacked

Postecoglou, who won the Europa League final with Tottenham Hotspur last season, had gone eight games without a win, which the club’s management thought unacceptable. He was issued his marching orders immediately after Forest suffered a 3-0 defeat against the west London club.

Following Postecoglou’s dismissal, TNT Sports reporter Jules Breach revealed that the club’s decision was confirmed as she was conducting her post-match interview with Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White.

“Despite the fact there was so much noise about this potentially happening before the match, I still think the timing and the way this has happened has surprised everyone, certainly down in the tunnel and obviously the dressing room as well,” according to her.

“I was interviewing Morgan Gibbs-White about the match when the news broke. That’s when we learnt that Ange Postecoglou had been fired as Nottingham Forest manager.

“In that interview, Morgan Gibbs-White said that Ange Postecoglou addressed the players in the dressing room and just talked about how frustrating it was that he can see improvements, the team can see improvements and progression, but they just weren’t putting the ball in the back of the net and were conceding sloppy goals.”

According to Breach, Gibbs-White and the team still had full faith in Ange Postecoglou’s ability to turn things around, so the players may be surprised that this news has occurred.

Ange Posteoclou’s Eight Matches at Forest

Date

Result

13/09/25

Arsenal 3-0 Forest.

17/09/25

Swansea City 3–2 Forest

20/09/25

Burnley 1–1 Forest

24/09/25

Real Betis 2-2 Forest

27/09/25

Forest 0–1 Sunderland

02/10/25

Forest 2-3, Midtjylland

05/10/25

Newcastle 2-0 Forest.

18/10/25

Forest 0–3 Chelsea

“Just after the interview, Gibbs-White was taken back into the home dressing room, and soon after, they were all taken to the boardroom, where I imagine there will be quite a long meeting going on right now,” she said as the Premier League dealt with another managerial sacking, Forest’s second of the season.

Breach said, “From what we saw down in the tunnel, prior to that interview, Ange Postecoglou went into the home dressing room, spoke with the players, and then went down to the other side of the tunnel area.” We watched him come out, and Edu was also in the corridor at the moment.

“Ange Postecoglou exited with a bag on his back and walked towards the car park. At that point, it appeared that the writing was on the wall, but the news was not confirmed until a few minutes later. Ange Postecoglou’s backroom staff are still present; as far as we know, Ange Postecoglou has already departed the stadium.”

According to GIVEMESPORT senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs, Forest have spoken with out-of-work Roberto Mancini, and Sean Dyche is also a candidate. The latter wishes to sign a long-term contract, but Marinakis is being difficult. Fulham manager Marco Silva is also well-regarded by the club.