Gary Neville reveals Oliver Glasner Nottingham Forest contract theory

Gary Neville believes Oliver Glasner may have negotiated a major severance clause before agreeing to become Nottingham Forest manager.

The Austrian has left Crystal Palace for the City Ground ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season and is understood to have signed a three-year contract as Vitor Pereira’s replacement.

Glasner becomes Forest’s fifth manager in less than a year, following Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche and Pereira.

That extraordinary turnover has led Neville to question what protection Glasner may have secured before accepting the job.

Speaking on The Overlap, Neville described Glasner as an excellent appointment but suggested the manager’s strong reputation would have given him significant leverage during contract negotiations.

“He must have got some hell of a severance clause in his contract to go there,” Neville said.

“Because Oliver Glasner’s star right now is pretty high. For Forest it’s a great get, but he must have one hell of a clause in there that says, ‘if you sack me, you’re going to have to pay me a fortune’.”

No details of any severance agreement have been confirmed, meaning Neville’s comments remain a theory.

However, Forest’s recent managerial record explains why the former Manchester United defender believes Glasner may have demanded extra protection.

Ian Wright was also surprised by Glasner’s decision to leave Crystal Palace for Forest.

The former Palace striker questioned whether Glasner would receive the control he wanted at the City Ground, particularly after reported frustrations surrounding the futures of Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze.

“I can only believe that he’s left Palace to go to Forest and I think it’s probably more money,” Wright said.

Roy Keane jokingly described the appointment as “fake news” before questioning whether there was anything wrong with a manager accepting a more lucrative offer.

For Forest, the appointment represents an ambitious move for a manager whose reputation remains high. The challenge will be giving Glasner enough time and stability to build his own team.

Glasner’s immediate challenge will be bringing stability to a club that has changed managers repeatedly over the past year.

Forest have secured a highly rated coach, but attention will now turn to whether he receives the time and control required to build his team. Neville’s contract theory remains unconfirmed, although Forest’s recent history makes Glasner’s working relationship with the club’s hierarchy a major storyline heading into the new season.

Can Glasner finally bring managerial stability to Nottingham Forest?