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The badge is more significant than every manager,” the new Forest boss stated at his unveiling as the club's manager, wearing a training kit with his monogram. Subsequently, amended his statement. Actually, there was one manager who was probably as important as the crest – we all know who that was.”} Following that, an imitation of the legendary manager, an attempt at that unique accent. “‘Young ginger, well done,’” he said, reliving his time as a youth player at the club's stadium, the period he spent strolling down the Trent, with Del Boy, whizzing past him and his boss's voice always within hearing range.

Dyche shares a story of how, as a youngster, he and a few others looked after the manager's yard at his residence in Quarndon. “We were on £28.50 a week and he gave you a tenner to do his garden. So we really thought: ‘This is pretty good.’ He’d cook for you and make sure you were well looked after. It was rather fun, not too much yard work.”

In his case, this moment has been a long time in the making. He lives in the city and has a affection for the team. In lately, he and his long-term assistant Ian Woan, who was part of the Nottingham Forest side the last time they were in Europe, in the mid-90s, have occasionally popped into the West Bridgford coffee shop where club icons such as a former player, Colin Barrett and Garry Birtles gather every Thursday to talk stories from past and present. He will have to give it a miss this time to get ready for the visit of Porto, unbeaten this season, in the European tournament on this week.

I can't wait to meeting the miracle men,” said the manager, who succeeded the previous coach to become Forest’s latest manager of the season. I'll get an earful if I fail to deliver, so I must win some games for them. Those fellows mean a lot to me. A lot of Forest fans appreciate the history of this club. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a opportunity to reshape my own history, I guess, as manager.”

Dyche oversaw the team practice for the first time on Tuesday, three days after Postecoglou watched a 3‑0 home loss by the London club that placed the club in the Premier League relegation zone. Ryan Yates, who joined as a child, admitted these are just the start but he and his team have eased some of the gloom.

Dyche’s backroom team includes one more Forest hero in a former player, as well as Billy Mercer and Tony Loughlan, who featured for the club. “I feel like a massive strength of this organization is fostering the connection between the supporters, players and coach and, let’s be honest, the recent period we lacked a good feeling around here,” the captain said. Dyche and his assistants have introduced that feeling of life and enthusiasm.”

Dyche emphasized he does not “know the club like the inside out” given his most recent encounter at the club has been as an opposition boss, but he believes he has a broader grasp of the environment and expectations. The guidelines have been laid. “I’ve let them wear light-colored footwear, for heaven's sake,” Dyche said. I expect my ex-players caning me on WhatsApp. But they’re not allowed to wear snoods or headgear … I had to do a compromise somewhere.”

Forest have lost their last four fixtures and not won since the start of the season. Dyche mentioned the owner, the Greek businessman, recognised the importance of stabilising the situation. He encountered the Greek billionaire in the European competition with Burnley, when his team lost in a qualifier against Olympiakos in 2018. Following the initial match he voiced frustration at club officials, including Marinakis, confronting the referees at half-time in Piraeus. We laughed about it,” Dyche recalled.

One aspect of Dyche’s attraction is his image for constructing sides with strong bases, pertinent for a side without a shutout in many games. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not concerned,” he stated. I don't avoid behind what’s effective. It’s no point of pride to me. Five years ago people were saying: ‘Why do you rely on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Tight trousers, wide-leg pants, slim fits, flared jeans … my child criticizes me for whatever jeans I wear. Apparently on online platforms even I got some criticism for my shoes walking into training [on Tuesday] … couldn’t believe that. A brand [trainers] but, anyway, prefer not to mention it.”

The manager is pleased that his formative years were at the club but thinks that should not mean he or his staff are evaluated differently. No easy path with the supporters, but we do care, that’s one thing I don’t think can ever be doubted,” he remarked. “All I dreamt of was putting on the jersey, but I never got to achieve it. Steve Stone and Woany succeeded, Billy Mercer played as a loan keeper, Tony wore it and netted 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 significant matter for me personally. But it doesn’t give me a divine right, trust me. The supporters expect me to win. If I’m failing, the fans are going to criticize me because that’s the way supporters work and I’ve got no problem with that because that’s the reality. I was here as a kid and didn't get to wear the shirt, the emblem. Well, currently, I’m here with it wearing it.”