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“This badge is more significant than any manager,” the new Forest boss declared at his introduction as the club's manager, wearing a training top with his monogram. Subsequently, corrected himself. “Well, there was one manager who was likely as big as the badge – everyone recognizes who that was.”} Then came, an impression of the legendary manager, an attempt at that unique drawl. “‘Young ginger, well done,’” he said, reliving his three years as a trainee at the City Ground, the days he spent wandering down the Trent, with Del Boy, whizzing past him and his boss's voice always within hearing range.

Dyche tells a anecdote of how, as a youth player, he and a few others looked after the manager's garden at his residence in Quarndon. Our weekly wage was minimal and he paid you a ten pounds to do his lawn. So we really thought: ‘This is pretty good.’ He’d prepare food for you and ensure you were well looked after. It was rather enjoyable, not too much gardening.”

For Dyche, this moment has been a years in the planning. He resides in the area and has a fondness for the club. In recent years, he and his longstanding assistant his deputy, who was a member of the Nottingham Forest side the previous occasion they were in Europe, in the mid-90s, have sometimes popped into the local coffee shop where club icons such as a former player, Colin Barrett and Garry Birtles gather every Thursday to discuss stories from past and present. He will have to skip it this time to prepare for the visit of the Portuguese side, undefeated this season, in the European tournament on Thursday evening.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the club legends,” said Dyche, who replaced the previous coach to become the team's latest manager of the season. I'll get an earful if I don’t do too well, so I must secure some matches for them. Those fellows mean a lot to me. A lot of Forest fans recognise the legacy of this institution. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a opportunity to reshape my personal history, I suppose, as coach.”

The new boss took the team practice for the initial session on Tuesday, three days after his predecessor watched a three-nil at home defeat by Chelsea that placed the side in the top division drop zone. Ryan Yates, who came aged eight, acknowledged these are just the start but Dyche and his staff have alleviated some of the negativity.

His staff includes another club icon in a former player, as well as Billy Mercer and another staff member, who played for the club. In my view a huge asset of this organization is fostering the connection between the fans, squad and coach and, let’s be honest, the recent period we lacked a good atmosphere around here,” the captain said. “The new manager and his assistants have brought that feeling of vitality and energy.”

He made clear he does not “know the club like the inside out” considering his most recent encounter at the club has been as an rival boss, but he thinks he has a broader understanding of the environment and demands. The house rules have been laid. “I’ve let them wear white socks, for heaven's sake,” the manager said. “I’ll have my former teammates criticizing me on WhatsApp. But they’re not allowed to wear neck warmers or headgear … I had to make a compromise somewhere.”

Forest have been defeated in their past four fixtures and failed to secure a victory since the opening day. The coach mentioned the proprietor, the Greek businessman, understood the importance of steadying things. He encountered the Greek billionaire in the Europa League with his former club, when his side were beaten in a qualifier against Olympiakos in 2018. Following the initial match Dyche expressed anger at Olympiakos dignitaries, including Marinakis, confronting the referees at half-time in the stadium. We laughed about it,” he recalled.

One aspect of Dyche’s attraction is his image for constructing teams with solid bases, pertinent for a team without a clean sheet in 20 matches. People categorize me, I’m not concerned,” he stated. I don't avoid behind what’s successful. It’s no point of pride to me. In the past people were going: ‘Why do you depend on dead balls?’ Now they’re in vogue. Skinny jeans, flared jeans, slim fits, flared jeans … my child criticizes me for any jeans I wear. Apparently on social media even I got some criticism for my trainers walking into training [on Tuesday] … couldn’t believe that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, regardless, don’t like to mention it.”

The manager is pleased that his formative years were at Forest but thinks that should not mean he or his team are evaluated in a special way. No easy path with the fans, but we are committed, that’s one thing I don’t think can ever be questioned,” he remarked. My only aspiration was wearing the shirt, but I didn't manage to achieve it. Stoney and Ian Woan did, Billy did as a temporary goalkeeper, Tony Loughlan wore it and scored a goal. I was the only one who didn’t and they keep reminding me of that.

“In my case to have that part of it is a significant matter for me individually. But it doesn't grant me a divine right, believe me. The supporters want me to succeed. If I’m failing, the crowd are going to come at me because that’s the way fans work and I’ve got no issue with that because it's the truth. I was here as a kid and didn't get to wear the kit, the badge. Now, currently, I’m here with it wearing it.”