Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper given Wolves ultimatum as sack looms

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has reportedly been told he has one game left to save his job – away at Wolverhampton Wanderers this Saturday. The Englishman is on the thinnest of ice following four consecutive defeats, including what he called an "embarrassing" 5-0 thrashing at Fulham on Wednesday evening.

Forest are just six points above the relegation zone and that gap be merely four if it wasn't for Everton's recent punishment. Club owner Evangelos Marinakis stormed out of Craven Cottage midweek and he was even spotted throwing his accreditation pass into a nearby hedgerow – but Cooper has been gifted one more chance.

“I have not spoken to him [Marinakis],” Cooper told The Athletic on Thursday. “I spoke to Miltos [Marinakis, Evangelos’ son] on the phone about the game; we had a conversation purely about the match. I saw Ross [Wilson, chief football officer]. But I’ve not heard from anyone else. We are ready to do our day’s work," Cooper said ahead of this weekend.

Wolves will be keen to extend their unbeaten streak at Molineux to six games with another positive result. Gary O'Neil won't underestimate Forest and their desire to put right their wrongs but advantage can certainly be taken of the Nottingham club's rock-bottom confidence. This Saturday's hosts can move into the top half with three points.