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“This emblem is more significant than every manager,” the new Forest boss stated at his introduction as the club's manager, sporting a training kit with his monogram. He then, amended his statement. “Well, there was one manager who was probably as important as the badge – everyone recognizes who that was.”} Then came, an imitation of Brian Clough, a crack at that unique accent. “‘Young ginger, well done,’” he recalled, reliving his three years as a youth player at the club's stadium, the days he spent wandering down the Trent, with Del Boy, dashing past him and his manager’s voice always within earshot.

The coach tells a anecdote of how, as a youngster, he and a couple of mates looked after Clough’s garden at his home in the area. “We were on £28.50 a week and he paid you a tenner to do his lawn. So we actually thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d prepare food for you and make sure you were well looked after. It was quite enjoyable, not too much yard work.”

In his case, this moment has been a long time in the planning. He resides in the city and has a fondness for the club. In lately, he and his long-term coach Ian Woan, who was part of the Forest side the last time they were in Europe, in 1995‑96, have sometimes visited the West Bridgford coffee shop where Forest legends such as a former player, another stalwart and a famous name meet every week to discuss old and new tales. He will have to skip it this week to get ready for the arrival of the Portuguese side, undefeated this campaign, in the European tournament on Thursday evening.

I can't wait to meeting the miracle men,” said Dyche, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou to become the team's latest manager of the season. I'll get an earful if I fail to deliver, so I must win some matches for them. Those guys are important to me. A lot of Forest fans recognise the legacy of this institution. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a opportunity to reinvent my personal history, I guess, as manager.”

Dyche oversaw the team practice for the initial session on Tuesday, three days after Postecoglou watched a three-nil home defeat by Chelsea that left the side in the top division relegation zone. Ryan Yates, who joined aged eight, admitted these are just the start but he and his staff have alleviated some of the negativity.

Dyche’s staff includes another Forest hero in a former player, as well as Billy Mercer and another staff member, who featured for the club. In my view a huge asset of this organization is fostering the bond between the supporters, squad and manager and, let’s be honest, the recent period we haven’t had a positive atmosphere around here,” Yates stated. “The new manager and his assistants have brought that feeling of vitality and enthusiasm.”

Dyche emphasized he does not understand the club like the inside out” given his most recent experience at the club has been as an rival manager, but he believes he has a broader understanding of the place and expectations. The house rules have been laid. “I’ve let them wear light-colored footwear, for heaven's sake,” Dyche commented. “I’ll have my former teammates caning me on messaging. But they’re not allowed to wear neck warmers or hats … I had to do a deal somewhere.”

Forest have lost their last four matches and failed to secure a victory since the start of the season. The coach mentioned the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, recognised the importance of steadying the situation. Dyche encountered the Greek billionaire in the Europa League with Burnley, when his team were beaten in a playoff against the Greek side in recent years. After the first leg he voiced frustration at Olympiakos dignitaries, including the owner, confronting the referees at the break in Piraeus. We laughed about it,” he said.

One aspect of his attraction is his image for constructing sides with strong foundations, relevant for a team without a clean sheet in many games. People categorize me, I’m not bothered,” he said. “I’ve never tried to hide behind what’s successful. It’s no point of pride to me. In the past people were saying: ‘Why do you depend on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Skinny jeans, wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, bell-bottoms … my child hammers me for any trousers I wear. It seems on social media even I got some stick for my trainers arriving at practice [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. A brand [trainers] but, regardless, don’t like to bring it up it.”

Dyche is proud that his formative years were at the club but thinks that should not mean he or his staff are judged in a special way. No easy path with the supporters, but we are committed, that’s a point I don’t think can ever be questioned,” he remarked. “All I dreamt of was putting on the shirt, but I didn't manage to achieve it. Stoney and Ian Woan did, Billy did as a temporary goalkeeper, Tony Loughlan wore it and scored a strike. I was the only one who failed to and they keep reminding me of that.

“In my case to have that connection of it is a significant matter for me individually. But it doesn't grant me a divine right, believe me. The supporters want me to succeed. If I’m not winning, the crowd are going to criticize me because that’s the way supporters work and I’ve got no issue with that because it's the truth. I was at the club as a kid and never wore the kit, the badge. Now, now, I’m here with it on me.”