……………Pompey’s current manager Steve Cotterill is at the centre of intense speculation linking him with the vacant post at Nottingham Forest with both cities local media giving contrasting stories.
The media in Portsmouth claimed at the beginning of this week that the 47 year old former Burnley and Notts County manager had been approached by Forest officials looking to replace Steve McClaren who resigned at the beginning of October following a run of two wins from the opening 10 league games of the season.
But BBC Radio Nottingham are claiming this is not the case and no official approach has been made to Cotterill who has done a brilliant job in just keeping Portsmouth in the Championship following severe financial problems at Fratton Park which saw the club become the first Premier League side ever to enter administration in 2009-2010.
Forest are also reported to be eyeing up ex Reds manager Mark Robins, and last week saw a move to bring their former manager and another ex Barnsley boss Paul Hart back to the City Ground as Technical Director fall through.
It remains to be seen whether Forest can entice Cotterill within the next 48 hours and if so it could see his first team coach, Stuart Gray- who enjoyed a prolific playing spell at Oakwell between 1983 and 1987, step into the breach on a temporary basis.