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The badge is more significant than every manager,” the new Forest boss declared at his introduction as Nottingham Forest’s manager, wearing a training top with his initials. Subsequently, corrected himself. “Well, there was one manager who was probably as big as the badge – we all know who that was.”} Following that, an impression of the legendary manager, an attempt at that distinctive drawl. “‘Young ginger, well done,’” he said, reminiscing about his three years as a youth player at the club's stadium, the period he spent strolling down the Trent, with Clough’s labrador, whizzing past him and his manager’s voice invariably within hearing range.

The coach tells a anecdote of how, as a youngster, he and a couple of mates looked after Clough’s garden at his residence in Quarndon. “We were on £28.50 a week and he gave you a tenner to do his lawn. So we actually thought: ‘This is pretty good.’ He’d prepare food for you and make sure you were cared for. It was quite enjoyable, not too much gardening.”

In his case, the appointment has been a years in the making. He resides in the area and has a fondness for the team. In recent years, he and his long-term assistant Ian Woan, who was part of the Forest squad the last time they were in European competition, in 1995‑96, have occasionally popped into the West Bridgford coffee shop where Forest legends such as a former player, Colin Barrett and a famous name gather every Thursday to talk old and new tales. He will have to skip it this time to get ready for the visit of Porto, unbeaten this season, in the European tournament on Thursday evening.

I can't wait to meeting the miracle men,” said Dyche, who replaced the previous coach to become the team's latest head coach of the term. I'll get an earful if I fail to deliver, so I must secure some matches for them. Those guys are important to me. A lot of Forest fans recognise the legacy of this institution. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a chance to reinvent my own story, I guess, as manager.”

Dyche took the team practice for the initial session on this week, three days after his predecessor watched a 3‑0 at home defeat by Chelsea that left the club in the Premier League drop zone. Ryan Yates, who joined aged eight, acknowledged these are just the start but he and his staff have alleviated some of the gloom.

Dyche’s backroom team includes another club icon in Steve Stone, as well as a coach and another staff member, both of whom played for the club. In my view a massive asset of this club is fostering the connection between the fans, squad and manager and, frankly, the last few weeks we haven’t had a good atmosphere around here,” Yates stated. “The new manager and his assistants have brought that feeling of vitality and enthusiasm.”

Dyche made clear he does not understand the team like the inside out” considering his latest encounter at the club has been as an rival boss, but he thinks he has a wider grasp of the environment and demands. The house rules have been set. I allowed the players wear white socks, for goodness sake,” the manager said. “I’ll have my ex-players caning me on messaging. But they’re not allowed to wear snoods or hats … I had to do a deal somewhere.”

The team have lost their past four fixtures and failed to secure a victory since the opening day. The coach mentioned the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, understood the significance of stabilising things. Dyche faced the Greek billionaire in the European competition with his former club, when his team were beaten in a qualifier against the Greek side in recent years. Following the initial match he voiced anger at Olympiakos dignitaries, among them the owner, approaching the officials at half-time in Piraeus. We laughed about it,” Dyche recalled.

Part of his appeal is his reputation for building teams with solid bases, pertinent for a side without a clean sheet in 20 matches. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not concerned,” he said. “I’ve never tried to hide behind what’s effective. It’s no badge of honour to me. Five years ago people were saying: ‘Why do you rely on set pieces?’ Now they’re in vogue. Tight trousers, flared jeans, skinny jeans, flared jeans … my daughter criticizes me for any jeans I wear. It seems on social media even I got some stick for my trainers arriving at practice [on Tuesday] … couldn’t believe that. A brand [trainers] but, regardless, prefer not to bring it up it.”

Dyche is pleased that his early career were at the club but thinks that should not mean he or his team are judged in a special way. “There’s no shortcut with the fans, but we are committed, that’s one thing I don’t think can ever be doubted,” he remarked. “All I dreamt of was wearing the jersey, but I never got to achieve it. Stoney and Woany succeeded, Billy did as a loan keeper, Tony featured and scored a strike. I was the sole person who failed to and they constantly tell me of that.

“In my case to have that part of it is a big thing for me personally. But it doesn't grant me a special privilege, believe me. The fans expect me to succeed. If I’m failing, the crowd are going to criticize me because how fans work and I’ve got no problem with that because that’s the reality. I was here as a kid and never wore the kit, the badge. Now, now, I’m sitting with it wearing it.”