Forest Take O'Driscoll Option

Nottingham Forest have appointed Sean O'Driscoll as their new manager, two months after he took over at Crawley.

O'Driscoll spent five months as first-team coach at Forest last season under former boss Steve Cotterill before taking charge of Crawley in May.

The club's new owners, the Al-Hasawi family, have told the BBC that O'Driscoll has a three-year deal.

"We interviewed high-profile figures but we truly believe Sean O'Driscoll is the best man," Fawaz Al-Hasawi said.

Forest's new owners said they were eager to appoint an "iconic manager" to replace Cotterill, who they dismissed last week .

Sven-Goran Eriksson was among a number of managers who was believed to have been interested in the role while fellow former England manager Glenn Hoddle had initial talks with Forest's new owners.

Al-Hasawi added: "Sean's passion for Nottingham Forest, knowledge of the game and the Championship in particular, plus his work ethic, shone through in our conversations.

"He is hugely respected, not only by members of our current squad and staff at the club for his work in helping transform our fortunes last season, but also within the wider football community."

O'Driscoll, who began his managerial career with Bournemouth in 2000, earned his reputation with Doncaster Rovers who he led to promotion to the Championship in 2008.

The former Republic of Ireland international was dismissed from his post at the Keepmoat Stadium in September 2011 before taking up his duties as first-team coach at the City Ground in January 2012.

O'Driscoll, 55, left for Crawley in May but has now returned to Forest without having taken charge of a competitive game.

He said: "It was an easy decision to make to return to Nottingham Forest.

"I enjoyed my time working with the players last season, and even in sometimes difficult circumstances the fans gave the kind of support you don't often see in football today.

"The Al-Hasawi family's ownership opens exciting prospects for this club and I look forward to rebuilding the squad and playing the kind of attractive football the City Ground deserves to see."

Crawley chief executive Alan Williams was reluctant to see O'Driscoll leave so early into his tenure at the Broadfield Stadium, but was willing to let the manger move on.

"The club is extremely disappointed to be losing Sean so soon after he came to Crawley Town, but our policy has never been to stand in the way of any employee who feels they would prefer to pursue a role at a different club," he said.

"We would like to thank Sean for his efforts during his time at the club and we wish him all the best for the future."

Crawley director of football Steve Coppell and head coach Craig Brewster will take over first-team affairs on a temporary basis.

Sean O'Driscoll's managerial career

August 2000 - Appointed manager of Bournemouth

May 2004 - Leads the Cherries to promotion up to League One

September 2006 - Appointed as manager of Doncaster

April 2007 - Wins Johnstone's Paint Trophy with Doncaster

May 2008 - Leads Doncaster from League One to the Championship

September 2011 - Sacked by Doncaster after poor run of form

January 2012 - Joins Nottingham Forest as first-team coach

May 2012 - Leaves Forest for Crawley Town

July 2012 - Makes a quick return to the City Ground after being named manager of Forest

OSM News - sign up here

Forest Owner Doughty Dead

Nottingham Forest owner Nigel Doughty has been found dead in the gym at his home in Skillington, Lincolnshire.

In October, Doughty, 54, announced he would be stepping down as Forest chairman at the end of the season.

He bought the club in 1999 for £11m, saving them from administration, and took over as chairman from Eric Barnes three years later.

The life-long Forest fan is estimated to have invested more than £100m of his personal fortune into the club.

Tributes have been paid to Doughty by sporting figures, including England cricketer Stuart Broad who called him a "lovely man", as well as by Labour leader Ed Miliband and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, to whose party Doughty was a major donor.

Brown mourned a "gentle giant" and said Doughty would be missed by people "who never knew him or met him but were beneficiaries of his commitment to good causes".

During his 10 years at the City Ground, Forest won promotion back to the Championship in 2008, three years after their relegation to League One, and under manager Billy Davies reached the play-offs in each of the last two seasons.

Despite their play-off finish, Doughty sacked Billy Davies as boss in the summer and appointed former England manager Steve McClaren in his place.

But McClaren resigned in October, reportedly frustrated at the financial constraints placed upon him.

Doughty stated his intention to step down as chairman on the same day, and said he took full responsibility for the failure of McClaren's tenure.

"It was a very poor decision on my behalf to appoint him," he told BBC Radio Nottingham, "I felt it was appropriate I take some responsibility.

"It has obviously not worked out. It has just been a bad decision in every way, shape and form - both for Steve McClaren and myself."

He estimated his yearly outlay to ensure Forest's survival at around £12m, but added that he intended to remain the club's owner.

Doughty, who was on Labour's board of assistant treasurers and last year led a taskforce on small business for a policy review, was described by party leader Miliband as "a kind and generous man".

He said: "I am shocked and saddened to hear of Nigel Doughty's death. I was with him only a week ago and he was full of life, enthusiasm and vigour.

"He was a kind, generous man with a deep desire to make the world a better place. My heart goes out to his wife Lucy and his children. We mourn his death deeply and will sorely miss him."

Former Prime Minister Brown added: "Nigel Doughty will be remembered as a gentle giant, a good, soft-spoken man with a deep commitment to public service who, from his great success in business, became one of our country's most generous benefactors.

"For all his life, he was loyal to all the causes that he had grown up with - his love for his team Nottingham Forest, the Labour Party and charitable causes that benefited from his generosity.

"He will be mourned by many who never knew him or met him but were beneficiaries of his commitment to good causes."

Tributes from the sporting community have also been paid on Twitter. Forest striker Dexter Blackstock tweeted: "I can't believe what I've just heard. Thoughts with nigel doughty family #rip".

Midfielder Garath McCleary also paid tribute, saying: "Nigel Doughty has done so much for nottingham forest, which sometimes was not best appreciated. Thoughts go to his family. #rip"

England and Nottinghamshire cricketer and Forest fan Broad also paid his respects on Twitter. "Very sad Nigel Doughty has died. Lovely man and did a huge amount for Forest. RIP."

Forest, currently in the Championship relegation zone, are due to visit East Midlands rivals Derby County on Sunday at 1215 GMT.

Fact-file

Co-founder of private equity firm Doughty Hanson & Co.

Bought Forest in 1999 for £11m

Eight full-time managers during his tenure

Invested more than £100m in the club