Postecoglou admits Forest job came too soon after Spurs exit

Ange Postecoglou has privately reflected on his brief and turbulent spell at Nottingham Forest, with former Rangers defender Craig Moore revealing the Australian believes he may have taken the job “a little too soon”.

Postecoglou’s time at the City Ground proved disastrous, ending after just 39 days and eight matches without a win - the shortest reign of any permanent manager in Premier League history.

The 60-year-old accepted the Forest role in the summer, just four months after being dismissed by Tottenham Hotspur, despite having delivered Spurs’ first major trophy in 17 years before his June 2025 exit.

According to Moore, Postecoglou has since acknowledged that the move may have come too quickly after such a turbulent period.

“I went to the Melbourne Derby in Australia, and I was in the box with both Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat,” Moore told the Go Radio Football Show.

“Ange was obviously talking about how much he loved his time at Celtic, but potentially he jumped in a little too soon with Nottingham Forest.

“With hindsight he said, ‘I should have taken a little bit more time’.”

Postecoglou’s Forest tenure unravelled almost immediately. Appointed with high expectations, he failed to win any of his eight matches in charge before being dismissed last October.

The speed of the collapse only added to scrutiny around the decision to return to management so quickly after leaving Spurs — a move that Moore suggests Postecoglou now views differently with the benefit of hindsight.

Despite the setback, those close to him believe his self-belief remains intact.

“But we know he is going to fall in OK,” Moore added, hinting that a return to management remains likely when the timing feels right.

Since his Forest dismissal, Postecoglou has taken a step away from frontline coaching and is currently working as a technical advisor for UEFA.

The role has allowed him to remain connected to the game while avoiding the relentless pressure of club management — something Moore’s comments suggest he may now value more than before.

Unsurprisingly, Postecoglou’s name continues to surface whenever the Celtic job is discussed. The Australian enjoyed a hugely successful two-year spell in Glasgow, winning back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles before moving to England.

With Martin O'Neill currently in interim charge following Wilfried Nancy’s sacking, speculation around a dramatic return has intensified.

However, Moore played down any immediate suggestion that such a move is imminent.

“I didn’t ask the question,” he admitted. “Sometimes great achievements and great memories are better left as they are.

“But what I do know is he has a great fondness for the football club. He loved Glasgow.”

Postecoglou’s reflections point to a manager reassessing timing rather than ambition. After consecutive high-pressure roles and abrupt exits, stepping back may prove crucial to shaping his next move.

However, it remains too early to draw firm conclusions about where — or when — he returns to the dugout.

Postecoglou is expected to remain out of club management in the short term, carefully weighing his next step. Whether that leads back to the Premier League, Europe or a familiar environment remains to be seen — but timing now appears central to his decision-making.

Should Ange Postecoglou wait for the perfect opportunity — or would a return to Celtic be the ideal reset?