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“This badge is bigger than any manager,” the new Forest boss declared at his introduction as Nottingham Forest’s manager, sporting a training kit with his monogram. Subsequently, amended his statement. Actually, there was one manager who was probably as big as the crest – everyone recognizes who that was.”} Following that, an impression of the legendary manager, a crack at that distinctive drawl. Lad, well done,’” he said, reliving his three years as a trainee at the City Ground, the period he spent strolling down the river, with Del Boy, whizzing past him and his manager’s voice invariably within earshot.

Dyche tells a story of how, as a youth player, he and a couple of mates tended the manager's garden at his home in Quarndon. Our weekly wage was minimal and he gave you a tenner to do his lawn. So we actually thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d cook for you and ensure you were well looked after. It was quite fun, not too much yard work.”

In his case, this moment has been a long time in the making. He lives in the area and has a fondness for the team. In recent years, he and his longstanding coach Ian Woan, who was a member of the Nottingham Forest side the previous occasion they were in European competition, in the mid-90s, have sometimes popped into the West Bridgford coffee shop where Forest legends such as a former player, another stalwart and Garry Birtles meet every week to discuss stories from past and present. He will have to give it a miss this week to get ready for the visit of Porto, unbeaten this season, in the Europa League on this week.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the miracle men,” said Dyche, who succeeded the previous coach to become Forest’s third manager of the term. I'll get an earful if I don’t do too well, so I better win some games for them. Those guys mean a lot to me. A great deal of supporters appreciate the history of this institution. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a chance to reinvent my personal story, I suppose, as coach.”

Dyche oversaw the team practice for the initial session on this week, three days after Postecoglou watched a three-nil home defeat by Chelsea that left the club in the top division relegation zone. the club captain, who joined aged eight, admitted these are just the start but he and his staff have eased some of the negativity.

His backroom team includes another Forest hero in a former player, as well as Billy Mercer and another staff member, who played for the club. In my view a huge strength of this club is fostering the bond between the fans, players and coach and, frankly, the last few weeks we haven’t had a good feeling around here,” the captain stated. Dyche and his assistants have introduced that feeling of life and enthusiasm.”

Dyche made clear he doesn't “know the team like the inside out” given his most recent encounter at Forest has been as an rival manager, but he thinks he has a wider grasp of the place and demands. The house rules have been set. “I’ve let them wear light-colored footwear, for goodness sake,” the manager said. I expect my former teammates caning me on messaging. But they’re not allowed to wear neck warmers or hats … I had to make a deal somewhere.”

Forest have been defeated in their last four matches and not won since the start of the season. The coach mentioned the owner, the Greek businessman, understood the importance of steadying the situation. He faced the Greek billionaire in the Europa League with Burnley, when his side lost in a qualifier against the Greek side in 2018. Following the initial match he expressed anger at Olympiakos dignitaries, including the owner, approaching the officials at the break in the stadium. “We had a bit of a giggle,” Dyche recalled.

One aspect of Dyche’s appeal is his image for building sides with solid bases, relevant for a side without a shutout in many games. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not bothered,” he stated. I don't avoid behind what’s successful. It’s no badge of honour to me. Five years ago people were going: ‘Why do you rely on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Skinny jeans, wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, bell-bottoms … my daughter hammers me for any jeans I wear. It seems on social media even I got some stick for my trainers walking into practice [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. A brand [trainers] but, regardless, don’t like to mention it.”

The manager is proud that his early career were at the club but believes that should not mean he or his staff are judged in a special way. No easy path with the fans, but we do care, that’s one thing I believe can ever be doubted,” he said. My only aspiration was wearing the shirt, but I never got to do it. Steve Stone and Ian Woan did, Billy Mercer played as a temporary goalkeeper, Tony featured and scored a goal. I was the sole person who didn’t and they keep reminding me of that.

“In my case to have that part of it is a big thing for me personally. But it doesn’t give me a divine right, trust me. The fans want me to succeed. If I’m failing, the crowd are going to come at me because that’s the way fans behave and I’ve got no issue with that because it's the truth. I was at the club as a kid and didn't get to wear the kit, the emblem. Well, currently, I’m sitting with it on me.”