Nottingham Forest’s Dougie Freeman wants to follow in footsteps of Old Big ‘Ed

The most competitive league in the country reaches its climax on Saturday.

No fewer than eight clubs are still in with a shout of winning promotion to the riches of the Premier League.

Dougie Freedman’s Nottingham Forest are not one of them.

But the ambitious Scot is already laying plans for changing that state of affairs next season and following in the footsteps of the club’s icon, Brian Clough.

“This is a brilliant league,” confirmed the 40-year-old Glaswegian. “When you look at what’s going on at the top of the table just now, everyone can’t wait to see what happens.

“That’s where I want to be with Nottingham Forest, and I know the owner shares that ambition.

“We feel we are equipped to be a Premier League club, but we have no divine right to be there. Only hard work, quality players, winning football and a wee bit of luck will get us there.

“I think our supporters deserve success. We’ve been away from the top league for something like 16 years (Forest were relegated in 1999 and Freedman was their top scorer) so it’s a tall order.

“If we all work together, on and off the park, during the summer and into the new season, then we will give ourselves a right good chance. We want to be in the mix. Why not?

“That said, because of the competitiveness of this league, there will be maybe 16 or 17 managers or owners saying the same thing. It makes for exciting stuff.”

Freedman was out of the game for four months after he lost his job at Bolton earlier in the season.

He was replaced by Neil Lennon, before Freedman replaced the sacked Stuart Pearce at the City Ground.

During his period out, Freedman went to Italy and Sweden to study training methods, and the psychological side of the game.

He is a well-respected figure in UK coaching and management circles and, if need be, he can pick up the phone to Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Roy Hodgson, Davie Moyes and Roberto Mancini for words of wisdom.

He has studied and listened to them all, and has decided to change his ways at Forest.

At Bolton he’d work 18 hours day, involved in all different aspects of the club, and sometimes found his energy was sapped when he needed it most for the first team.

Now, Freedman will often take a step back in order to be fully focused on what is needed to win games of football on a Saturday, and delegates the rest of the duties.

He stressed: “Being a coach and a manager is also about listening and learning and, ultimately, improving.

“You have to be open to new ideas, and you have to be able to reflect and admit if there are some things and situations you could have handled better.

“I used my time out earlier this season to analyse my time at Bolton, and then decide the things I would do differently in my next job.

“I also phoned and met a few managers in the game that I trust and respect. That was invaluable.

“So it’s now up to me to put it all to good use at Forest. I have good people around me and I feel we can all make progress by working together.”

Being given access to a Forest training session allowed a focus on Freedman’s work on the grass.

Meticulous, conscientious, intelligent and energetic, he was impressive and always commanded the attention of his players, from Scotland winger Chris Burke to former Celtic defender, Kelvin Wilson.

He is a very hands-on coach and said: “I love coaching. I love being out there and helping players to try and develop and improve, whether they are 18 or 33.

“Coaches are teachers, and if our footballers haven’t been given sound advice and direction every day on the training ground or in the video analysis room then we are failing at our jobs.

“I want my players to believe they will learn something every day that benefits and improves their game, just as long as they listen and go with it.

“I realise I’m in a privileged position to have such a job, and very lucky to be managing a club of this stature with its history of two European Cups and the legendary Brian Clough in charge.

“I’m also well aware of the Scotsmen that have served this club so well over the years, from Archie Gemmill to John Robertson and John McGovern.

“I’m proud to be another man from Scotland at this club and I hope to be able to make a significant contribution.”