NOTTINGHAM Forest legend Kenny Burns says the ruthlessness in Fawaz Al Hasawi's decision to axe boss Sean O'Driscoll could prove rash – or pure genius.
But he says the proof will be in the pudding and the only way the decision will prove the right one is if new manager Alex McLeish steers the Reds into the Premier League.
O'Driscoll was brutally given the boot by chairman Al Hasawi just hours after leading his side to a 4-2 win against promotion rivals Leeds at the City Ground on Boxing Day.
The former Doncaster boss took the reins in the summer at late notice and built a squad from scratch, following the takeover by the Al Hasawi family.
And he leaves the club just one point off the play-offs in the Championship ahead of hosting Crystal Palace tomorrow and, while stunned by the decision, Burns says it might still prove a brave, but correct one.
The two-time European Cup winner said: "By doing this, they have definitely shown how ruthless they are. But whether it proves rash or a great move, we will only know come the end of the season.
"I was totally stunned by the news, because I had watched the win against Leeds and they performed well overall and are just one point off the play-offs.
"But the Al Hasawis have now said they want promotion this season. They are obviously not very patient and have put a lot of money in and want an instant return, despite what they said in the summer.
"They feel they need a new manager before the transfer window opens and how much intent there is from them will be seen first by how much money they hand McLeish to spend in the transfer window."
Burns felt by this stage of the season, O'Driscoll should have been getting more from his squad on a consistent basis.
"I kept hearing all this about putting a new squad together, time to gel and not knowing his best team," said Burns. "But after 24 games, you should know that.
"Forest have some very, very talented players and the possession, total passing game sometimes did not work. It was too slow in terms of getting the ball forward, creating chances.
"Look at the Leeds game. For Sharp's second, it was a ball forward, flick on from Dexter Blackstock and then Billy Sharp shows his class to take it beyond the goalkeeper and score. It doesn't always have to be pretty, pretty with 30 passes.
"And I also feel the team plays too narrow, needs more width and that is something the new manager might want to add next month.
"But those are a few bug bears of mine throughout the season. However, O'Driscoll was doing a decent job and who is to say he would not have delivered promotion this season?
"Now, it will be a different way forward, but the sacking was a total shock. Had it happened after the game before following a poor loss at Watford, maybe it would not have been totally out of the blue, although still a shock.
"To do it after a good win, when the players and fans were on a real high, is a strange one. But it must mean they already had the new man lined up given there is a game tomorrow and another at Blackburn on New Year's Day.
"Come May, we will know whether sacking O'Driscoll was a ruthless act at the right time for the right reasons for the club. Or it will prove a kamikaze one. Only time will tell us the answer."
Burns feels the appointment of McLeish as the new boss will not go down too well with the Forest fans.
He added: "It is a strange one and I'm not too sure it will initially go down well with the supporters of the club, who are shocked to see Sean O'Driscoll sacked.
"He did well at Birmingham, where he took them up and won the League Cup, but his move to Villa never worked out for him.
"What can I say, football is a funny old game and things change all the time.
"But it will be interesting to see what kind of reception he gets at tomorrow's game.
"Hopefully it will be an appointment that works."
Read how we broke the story of McLeish's appointment last night here.