Exclusive – Pearce: Cotterill can turn Nottingham Forest around

Nottingham Forest legend Stuart Pearce has backed Steve Cotterill to save the club from relegation back to League One.

The ex-Portsmouth boss has been in charge since mid-October at The City Ground and although his tenure got off to a sensational start with four wins in six games, Forest now find themselves in the Championship relegation zone.

But Pearce, who played over 400 times for the Tricky Trees and was caretaker in 1996/97, believes Cotterill can turn things around for the ailing side.

He said: “Obviously I’ve had good connections with the club, I was at Nottingham Forest for 12 years.

“There are a lot of clubs in Forest’s situation, that have got rich histories over the last 30 years that are finding it difficult outside the Premier League, and they just have to keep battling away.

“The new manager has come in, Steve Cotterill, and I’m sure he’ll turn things around. They’ve got to make sure they turn things around if they physically can.”