Nottingham Forest owner demanding immediate improvement with Steve Cooper safe for now

Steve Cooper retains the full support of Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis ahead of a crucial run of games.

Marinakis is demanding an immediate improvement in results but is determined to maintain his backing for Cooper, who is under pressure after one win in nine Premier League outings.

Forest have spent almost £100 million on new signings over the summer with Marinakis intent on eventually establishing the club as a force in English football.

The Greek billionaire is targeting a top-10 finish after such vast investment, following last season’s flirtation with relegation.

Cooper has come under renewed scrutiny after the crazy 3-2 home defeat by Brighton on Saturday.

Forest face Everton at home this weekend and Marinakis is throwing his support behind the Welshman in an attempt to focus the club’s energies on a morale-boosting victory.

A heavy defeat against Sean Dyche’s strugglers could leave Cooper vulnerable, but with games coming up against Fulham and Wolves, the Forest hierarchy do not want any distractions for such a potentially pivotal sequence of fixtures.

Marinakis will be present at the City Ground on Saturday and, despite his fearsome reputation, backed Cooper last season through a turbulent campaign.

Cooper was close to being dismissed after a 4-0 defeat by Leicester City in October last year, but signed a new contract and then earned widespread praise for leading the east Midlands club to survival.

There has been recent friction over the club’s failure to bring in a specialist set-piece coach. Talks are ongoing with candidates over a possible appointment.