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The emblem is more significant than every manager,” Sean Dyche stated at his unveiling as the club's manager, wearing a training kit with his monogram. He then, amended his statement. “Well, there was a single manager who was probably as big as the crest – we all know who that was.”} Following that, an imitation of the legendary manager, an attempt at that unique accent. Lad, well done,’” he recalled, reminiscing about his time as a trainee at the club's stadium, the period he spent strolling down the Trent, with Del Boy, whizzing past him and his manager’s voice always within earshot.

Dyche shares a story of how, as a youngster, he and a couple of mates tended Clough’s garden at his home in the area. “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 ensure you were well looked after. It was rather enjoyable, not too much yard work.”

In his case, the appointment has been a years in the making. He lives in the city and has a fondness for the club. In recent years, he and his longstanding assistant his deputy, who was a member of the Nottingham Forest squad the last time they were in Europe, in the mid-90s, have occasionally visited the local cafe where club icons such as a former player, Colin Barrett and Garry Birtles meet every Thursday to discuss stories from past and present. He will have to skip it this time to get ready for the arrival of Porto, undefeated this season, in the Europa League on this week.

I can't wait to seeing the miracle men,” remarked the manager, who replaced the previous coach to become Forest’s latest manager of the season. “They will give me a bit of ear-holing if I fail to deliver, so I better win some matches for them. Those guys are important to me. A great deal of supporters recognise the legacy of this club. I have personal ties and now I’ve got a opportunity to reinvent my personal story, I suppose, as coach.”

Dyche took the team practice for the first time on this week, a short while after Postecoglou watched a three-nil home defeat by Chelsea that left the side in the Premier League relegation zone. Ryan Yates, who joined aged eight, acknowledged these are early days but Dyche and his team have eased some of the gloom.

His staff includes one more Forest hero in Steve Stone, as well as Billy Mercer and another staff member, who played for the club. In my view a huge strength of this organization is getting the connection between the supporters, squad and coach and, let’s be honest, the recent period we lacked a good feeling around here,” Yates said. “The new manager and his staff have brought that feeling of vitality and enthusiasm.”

Dyche emphasized he does not understand the club like the inside out” considering his most recent experience at the club has been as an opposition manager, but he thinks he has a broader grasp of the place and expectations. The guidelines have been laid. “I’ve let them wear light-colored footwear, for goodness sake,” the manager commented. I expect my ex-players criticizing me on messaging. But they’re not allowed to wear neck warmers or hats … I had to make a compromise somewhere.”

The team have been defeated in their last four matches and not won since the opening day. Dyche said the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, understood the importance of steadying things. Dyche encountered the Greek billionaire in the Europa League with Burnley, when his side lost in a qualifier against Olympiakos in recent years. Following the initial match he voiced anger at Olympiakos dignitaries, among them the owner, approaching the referees at half-time in Piraeus. “We had a bit of a giggle,” Dyche recalled.

One aspect of Dyche’s appeal is his reputation for building sides with strong bases, relevant for a team without a shutout in many games. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not bothered,” he said. I don't avoid behind what’s effective. It’s no point of pride to me. Five years ago people were going: ‘Why do you rely on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Tight trousers, wide-leg pants, slim fits, bell-bottoms … my child hammers me for whatever jeans I wear. It seems on social media even I got some criticism for my shoes walking into training [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, regardless, prefer not to mention it.”

Dyche is pleased that his formative years were at the club but thinks that should not mean he or his team are evaluated in a special way. “There’s no shortcut with the fans, but we do care, that’s a point I don’t think can ever be questioned,” he said. My only aspiration was putting on the shirt, but I never got to achieve it. Steve Stone and Ian Woan did, Billy Mercer did as a temporary goalkeeper, Tony wore it and scored a strike. I was the sole person who didn’t and they keep reminding me of that.

“For me to have that part of it is a big thing for me personally. But it doesn’t give me a special privilege, believe me. The supporters want me to win. If I’m failing, the crowd are going to criticize me because that’s the way fans work and I’ve got no problem with that because it's the truth. I was at the club as a kid and never wore the shirt, the badge. Now, currently, I’m here with it on me.”