Nigel Clough On Verge Of League Management

Former Forest striker Nigel Clough ended his playing career at the City Ground in 1998, whilst on loan from Manchester City. Since then he has been manager of Blue Square Conference side Burton Albion.

On Friday night his side face Cambridge in the 1st leg Play Off Semi Final, with a place in the Football League as the prize for the first time in the clubs' history.

His nine year career at the City Ground saw him bag 103 goals for us and made him a fans favourite. After moving to Liverpool following our first relegation. He spent three unhappy years on Merseyside before moving to Maine Road. He returned home to us for a brief spell in 96-97 and then moved into management with Burton.

Throughout his career both as a player and a manager he's had to put up with comparisons with his father the late, great Sir Brian. But Nigel has always quietly and successfully gone about his business in his own way and usually proving people wrong in the process.

He told Setanta Sports News. 'I don`t think my dad`s success has put any extra pressure on me to achieve. Obviously, it helps working at this level, because I can just get on and go about it in my own way and any success we achieve here is on merit.'

I don't think there will be a single Forest fan who would not wish him well and success in the Play Offs. He's gone about learning his trade in the right way and starting at grass roots. His father would have been proud of that. Don't be too surprised to see him in the Football League very soon.