LAST week, Sean O'Driscoll met with the Al Hasawi family – and they bluntly told him that promotion was now the goal for Nottingham Forest this season.
Last night, they delivered the even more hard-hitting news they did not believe he was the man to deliver it.
After beating Leeds United 4-2 at the City Ground, O'Driscoll revealed the club's owners had moved the goal posts significantly. But even he could not have envisaged what was about to follow, as, instead of plotting to field a 4-1-3-2 against Palace next weekend, he was instead left to consider a different set of numbers – a P45.
"They have indicated that they want promotion and that it would be good if we can deliver it this season," said O'Driscoll, after seeing his side demolish United. "That is a tall order. But, if you asked the players, they would say 'yes, we can do it'. They believe we are as good as anything in this league.
"The Al Hasawi's are keen, they have put money into the club and they want to see it expand and grow. They have brought the club because they believe it is a Premier League club.
"I don't think anyone is going to argue with that. The difficulty is that, while everyone wants it, you have to find a way to do it. That is the difficulty."
The harsh reality – and harsh is the right word, given the progress he was making – is that Forest will now turn to a different man to deliver that promotion; to secure that place in the top flight craved in this part of the city for more than a decade.
The last time a manager was sacked on Boxing Day, you could see it coming on the horizon, as Forest struggled to acclimatise to life in the Championship under Colin Calderwood. Even Nigel Doughty, a patient, considered man who was never quick to pull the trigger, was prompted to take action as Forest struggled.
This was different, in the sense that Forest were not struggling; they are very much in the hunt for promotion. But still another likeable, decent manager – who had held a positive influence in the dressing room – heads into a new year without a job.
It is tough on O'Driscoll and many in the dressing room are sad to see him go. Several players said as much last night, but did not want to upset anyone by publicly voicing their dismay.
But, in a bizarre fashion, the decision is also a reflection of the Al Hasawi family's ambition. O'Driscoll's performance may have been good but, in their eyes, it was not good enough.
At the end of this season, nearly is not going to be good enough. As they told O'Driscoll at their meeting in London, promotion, rather than consolidation is now the goal.
Yesterday, slap bang in the middle of the festive season, it was fitting Forest fans were able to dispatch a handful of their favourite pantomime villains from the city with their ears ringing.
Not only did the City Ground have four goals and a timely victory over one of their oldest rivals to cheer, but they were also able to indulge in giving long-term targets Neil Warnock, El Hadji Diouf and Michael Brown a little friendly stick.
And, at the same time, O'Driscoll's standing should have been improved with the home faithful, as his side served up a Boxing Day treat.
But the decision to sack him does not make the Al Hasawi family villains too. Ruthless, yes. But they clearly believe they are acting with the best interests of the club at heart, whether you agree with their decision or not.
Much will now depend on the choice of successor. The last time a manager was sacked on Boxing Day, Calderwood was ultimately replaced with Billy Davies. He, initially, was not a popular choice, due to his links with Derby County. But he did do a good job.
Davies never managed to steer Forest over the finishing line, when it came to promotion. But he twice came close – And he might have, had he been more focussed on football than politics . . . but that is a different story altogether.
Now, the familiar round of speculation has begun at a club where the new manager will be the 12th to have occupied the hotseat in less than a decade – and the fifth in the last two years.
Roberto Di Matteo and Roy Keane have already emerged as the front runners. Both are men who know a little about pressure and expectation, having played and managed at the highest level.
But that is a good job, because whoever takes on the Forest job will have two things at the forefront of their mind. Firstly, promotion is the target this season and secondly, if they do not achieve that, there are likely to be ramifications.
Having demonstrated their ruthless streak by getting rid of O'Driscoll, the Al Hasawi family could easily make it 13 managers in a decade if they do not see success.
But, what the new manager is likely to receive is backing in the transfer market. He will be supported with new signings in January. His challenge will be to immediately mould them into a promotion-winning squad.
The irony was that, against Leeds yesterday, O'Driscoll had shown signs he was close to achieving exactly that himself.
The now former Reds boss had seen questions asked about his approach following a poor run of results that had culminated in a painful, one-sided defeat at Watford on Saturday.
Having been told by his own players, in the aftermath of that defeat at Vicarage Road, that Forest may be guilty of paying too much attention to opposition strengths, O'Driscoll picked a side that, on paper, should have given Leeds something to think about.
And, in an outstanding second-half display, they did exactly that, as they chalked up an emphatic 4-2 success.
After two earlier calls for a penalty, referee Lee Probert finally pointed to the spot in the 43rd minute, after Lees had brought down Billy Sharp. The Leeds defender stuck out a foot after the striker had turned him at the near post and the referee was quick to point to the spot.
Sharp regained his feet to take the kick, which carried the additional pressure of being taken right in front of the travelling fans – but he kept his composure superbly to drill the ball low to Kenny's left and inside the post and cancel out the early opening goal from Paul Green.
Forest took the lead in the 54th minute, as Dexter Blackstock did well to provide a flick-on for Sharp to chase, skip around the advancing Kenny and apply a composed finish.
Barely two minutes later Forest were 3-1 up, as Elliott Ward was left unmarked at the far post following a Reid corner and, when he powered the ball back into the centre, Rodolph Austin could only divert the ball into his own net.
And, when Andy Reid who bent the ball enticingly into the centre, Blackstock rose to slam home a firm downward header and complete a mad eight minutes of action.
Sub Davide Somma did pull one back, sweeping home from close range, but it was not enough to dampen the festive mood at the City Ground. That only happened once news filtered through about O'Driscoll's shock departure.
Man of match: Billy Sharp. Was denied a hat-trick by a tight looking offside decision, on an afternoon when he netted twice to ruin the afternoon for his old Sheffield United manager. A vintage display from the on-loan striker.
Referee: Lee Probert (Gloucestershire). Missed two penalty claims for Forest in the first half, before finally pointing to the spot when Tom Lees brought down Billy Sharp. Not a Premier League performance from the top-flight official, but it did not influence the outcome of the game.
Attendance: 26,670 (3,235 away)
Forest: Camp, Hutton, Ward, Collins, Halford, Guedioura, Cohen, Majewski (Moussi 70), Reid (Lansbury 82), Sharp (Cox 77), Blackstock. Subs: Darlow, Harding, Gillett, McGugan.
Leeds: Kenny, Lees, Tate, Austin (Pearce 66), Byram (McCormack 79), Green, Diouf (Somma 65), Brown, Drury, Becchio, Thomas. Subs: Varney, Ashdown, White, Norris, McCormack.
Championship Results: Charlton 1 Ipswich 2, Barnsley 1 Birmingham 2, Bolton 0 Sheff Wed 1, Bristol City P-P Watford, Burnley 2 Derby 0, Cardiff 2 Crystal Palace 1, Huddersfield 1 Blackpool 1, Hull 0 Leicester 0, Middlesbrough 1 Blackburn 0, Wolves 0 Peterborough 3
