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“This badge is bigger than any manager,” the new Forest boss declared at his unveiling as Nottingham Forest’s head coach, sporting a training top with his monogram. He then, amended his statement. “Well, there was one manager who was probably as big as the badge – we all know who that was.”} Following that, an imitation of the legendary manager, an attempt at that distinctive drawl. Lad, well done,’” he recalled, reliving his time as a trainee at the club's stadium, the period he spent wandering down the river, with Clough’s labrador, dashing past him and his manager’s voice invariably within hearing range.

The coach tells a story of how, as a youngster, he and a few others tended the manager's yard at his home in the area. Our weekly wage was minimal and he gave you a tenner to do his garden. So we really thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d cook for you and make sure you were cared for. It was quite enjoyable, not too much yard work.”

For Dyche, this moment has been a long time in the planning. He lives in the city and has a fondness for the club. In lately, he and his long-term assistant Ian Woan, who was a member of the Nottingham Forest squad the last time they were in Europe, in the mid-90s, have occasionally popped into the West Bridgford cafe where club icons such as Frank Clark, another stalwart and a famous name meet every Thursday to talk old and new tales. He will have to skip it this time to get ready for the arrival of the Portuguese side, undefeated this season, in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the club legends,” remarked the manager, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou to become the team's latest manager of the term. “They will give me a bit of ear-holing if I don’t do too well, so I better secure some matches for them. Those guys are important to me. A great deal of supporters recognise the legacy of this institution. I have personal ties and now I’ve got a opportunity to reinvent my own story, I suppose, as coach.”

The new boss oversaw the team training for the first time on this week, a short while after his predecessor oversaw a three-nil at home defeat by Chelsea that left the side in the top division relegation zone. Ryan Yates, who came aged eight, acknowledged these are early days but Dyche and his team have alleviated some of the negativity.

His backroom team includes another club icon in a former player, as well as Billy Mercer and Tony Loughlan, both of whom played for the club. “I feel like a massive asset of this organization is getting the bond between the supporters, players and coach and, frankly, the last few weeks we lacked a positive atmosphere around here,” the captain stated. Dyche and his staff have introduced that feeling of vitality and enthusiasm.”

He emphasized he doesn't understand the team like the inside out” given his most recent encounter at Forest has been as an opposition boss, but he thinks he has a wider grasp of the environment and expectations. The guidelines have been laid. “I’ve let them wear white socks, for heaven's sake,” Dyche commented. I expect my former teammates caning me on messaging. But they’re not allowed to wear snoods or headgear … I had to make a deal somewhere.”

The team have been defeated in their last four fixtures and failed to secure a victory since the start of the season. The coach mentioned the proprietor, Evangelos Marinakis, recognised the importance of stabilising the situation. He encountered the Greek billionaire in the Europa League with Burnley, when his side were beaten in a qualifier against Olympiakos in 2018. After the first leg Dyche expressed anger at Olympiakos dignitaries, among them the owner, approaching the officials at half-time in the stadium. We laughed about it,” Dyche recalled.

Part of Dyche’s attraction is his image for building teams with strong bases, relevant for a side without a clean sheet in 20 matches. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not concerned,” he said. I don't avoid behind what’s successful. It’s no badge of honour to me. In the past people were saying: ‘Why do you depend on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Skinny jeans, wide-leg pants, slim fits, bell-bottoms … my child criticizes me for whatever trousers I wear. It seems on social media even I got some stick for my trainers arriving at training [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. A brand [trainers] but, regardless, prefer not to mention it.”

Dyche is proud that his formative years were at the club but thinks that should not mean he or his staff are evaluated differently. No easy path with the fans, but we are committed, that’s a point I don’t think can ever be doubted,” he said. My only aspiration was putting on the shirt, but I didn't manage to achieve it. Steve Stone and Ian Woan did, Billy did as a loan goalkeeper, Tony Loughlan featured and netted a strike. I was the only one who failed to and they constantly tell me of that.

“For me to have that part of it is a significant matter for me individually. But it doesn't grant me a divine right, believe me. The fans want me to win. If I’m failing, the fans are going to criticize me because how fans behave and I’ve got no problem with that because that’s the reality. I was at the club as a youth and never wore the shirt, the emblem. Now, currently, I’m sitting with it on me.”