Calderwood - No Axe To Grind

Nottingham Forest take on the Geordie nation on Monday night, when they play Newcastle United. They will also come face to face with the man they sacked just over a year ago, in former manager Colin Calderwood.

It's a credit to the now first team coach at Newcastle, that he bears us no grudges and nor should he, because it was the right decision in giving him the sack. Although Calderwood was responsible for dragging us kicking and screaming from League 1, he was sadly out of his depth managing in the Championship.

Calderwood was a pleasant and amiable sort of bloke and rarely spoke out of turn. That in itself was one of his downfalls, because as he eventually went on to prove, nice guys win nowt. The season he won us promotion from League 1, was a tortuous affair for many. The football played to get us their was dire at times and he was often found wanting in the tactical department. That said, he has gone on to help make the Geordies the top side in the division and has helped keep them there for the entire season.

Speaking about his time at Forest, he told The Chronicle. "What we built at Forest was good - it just needed a period of time.
And sometimes you do not get time in football." If Calderwood had been given anymore time at the helm, Forest would undoubtedly be plying their trade in League 1 by now.

But, fair play to the guy for being as honourable as ever. He acknowledges the work done by his successor saying. "You can see the difference with just a bit of experience at that level. They had a poor start to the season, and that group really dug deep on occasions, which is why they are where they are."

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