Nottingham Forest: Neil Warnock rejects manager role

Neil Warnock has rejected the chance to take over as Nottingham Forest manager.

After sacking Billy Davies, the Reds had been in talks with Warnock, 65, and the former Leeds United boss was expected to be appointed on Monday.

But BBC Radio 5 live correspondent Pat Murphy said: "He was the hot favourite. He met the owner and chairman but did not feel it was quite right for him."

Owner and chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi told BBC East Midlands Today that Warnock was one of a number of candidates.

Murphy added: "I understand Neil turned it down. He is 65, based down in Cornwall, and it would take quite a bit to lever him up out of that. It is not quite right for him so he will pass. That is a big surprise."

Academy manager Gary Brazil will be in charge for Tuesday's Championship game against Charlton.

And Al Hasawi has called for "patience" from fans before appointing the club's new boss.

Al Hasawi, who has lifted all bans on media at the club, said in a statement on the Forest website:  "I am aware many people expect me to announce a new manager imminently.

"However I must stress the need for patience as I make the important decision of who takes the reins at this crucial stage of the season."

Davies, 49, was appointed Reds boss for a second time in February 2013, but was fired in the wake of Saturday's 5-0 defeat against rivals Derby County.

The result left Forest a place and two points outside the Championship play-offs after an eight-game winless run following the victory over Huddersfield Town.

Al Hasawi, who has appointed Forest's two-time European Cup winning captain John McGovern as a club ambassador, told BBC East Midlands Today: "We contacted many managers but we want to choose the right one. All of them are great managers and I respect them but I should talk about the right manager.

"Billy Davies is a good manager and he did well since we started the season, but things didn't work. Sometimes even if you have a good manager it doesn't work. I respect him and wish him all the best.

"The last eight games hurt. We spent lots of money this season and we expected to be top of the league. I was really disappointed."

The Kuwait Al Hasawi family bought the club in July 2012 and have had already had four permanent managers.

Steve Cotterill was sacked within days of the Al Hasawis taking over, and Sean O'Driscoll and Alex McLeish have also come and gone before Davies' 13-month reign.