Sean O'Driscoll: Andy Reid welcomes 'brave' Forest move

Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid says Sean O'Driscoll is a fantastic appointment as boss and the club were right not to go for an "iconic" name.

Forest's new owners the Al-Hasawis had promised a high-profile manager but, after talking to several candidates and consulting players and coaches, they opted for the experienced O'Driscoll.

"It's important we got the right man as opposed to someone who is just a name or a reputation," Reid told BBC Sport.

"I believe we have got the right man."

O'Driscoll spent five months as a coach with Forest last season, and was credited with playing a key role in helping them avoid relegation from the Championship after a traumatic campaign on and off the pitch.

"He played a massive part," Reid told BBC East Midlands Today.

"He came in and helped get us organised which was vitally important. We were a little bit all over the place at times and we needed to be more organised and Sean helped with that side of it.

"We knew we had the players in the squad to hurt teams and once we did get organised and we weren't giving away silly goals as a team, we could give anybody a game. And we proved that towards the end of the season."

The 55-year-old left his position as boss at Crawley Town without playing a competitive game and has been handed a three-year contract by Forest's owners, who had originally promised an iconic appointment.

They had talked to former England manager Glenn Hoddle, former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and also Mick McCarthy, who rejected the chance to succeed Steve Cotterill at the City Ground.

But with a host of other names also being linked with the job - from Roy Keane to Diego Maradona - Reid is glad they chose a man who knows the club, has a proven pedigree in the Championship and wants to play passing football.

Reid added: "It's fantastic appointment, and it's a very brave appointment in a lot of ways.

"What we needed was not a sexy appointment or somebody who was just coming in because of the name.

"We needed an appointment who knew the values and tradition of this club and knows this league because it's a different league to any other league in the world. It takes certain qualities to get promoted, and Sean is fully aware of what those qualities are.

"It was the right appointment to make and fitted in great for what we needed, which is stability and somebody we know.

"It would have been easy to go the other way but they probably listened to advice from certain people."

Republic of Ireland international Reid also said O'Driscoll's stint on the coaching staff last season left him in no doubt that the club have done the correct thing.

"We spoke about it as a group of players and there wasn't one player who said they wouldn't be happy with it which is obviously encouraging," Reid added.

"Since I have come to the club as a kid there is a tradition of getting the ball down and playing football and the new manager is obviously a fan of playing football.

"But at the same time he is not naive. He knows there are times to play football and times not too. The other side of it is a very important part for us; getting organised, getting a steady team, not giving away silly goals and free-kicks away and then letting the football do the talking.

"We have some very talented players in the squad."

The big concern among many Forest fans now is the size of that squad. The new season is just over four weeks away and some important players have left since the end of last season.

Winger Garath McCleary, a key player in the run-in, has joined Reading, but the main worry is in defence, with Chris Gunter also now at Reading and fellow defenders Luke Chambers and Joel Lynch moving on. Several other players are also out of contract.

But Reid said he is not fazed by the fact pre-season is already under way and says O'Driscoll should have time to strengthen.

"It's a late start for him coming in, but not a late start for us, we have been working really hard," Reid said.

"The coaching staff who have been here and the physios who have been here have been absolutely fantastic. It has been a really, really good two weeks.

"The lads are fit and up for it. It's good that the new manager comes in and knows us and we know him in that transitional period. It might give him a bit more leeway to maybe concentrate on bringing in some players."

Former Forest captain Luke Chambers, who joined Ipswich Town earlier this month, played under O'Driscoll last season and echoed Reid's views.

"It's a great move for the club," Chambers told BBC Radio Nottingham. "The lads all know Sean but it's obviously a little bit of a shock to see him come back so soon.

"He did great things working with the previous gaffer Steve Cotterill - it was a good time when they both worked together, and they managed to get us out of the rut we were in just before Christmas.

"He knows how to organise teams, as he managed Doncaster in the Championship on a limited budget.

"Maybe Steve [Cotterill] might feel a bit hard done by, because of what's happened but that's football these days."