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“This badge is bigger than any manager,” Sean Dyche declared at his introduction as Nottingham Forest’s head coach, sporting a training top with his initials. Subsequently, amended his statement. “Well, there was one manager who was probably as big as the crest – we all know who that was.”} Then came, an impression of the legendary manager, an attempt at that distinctive drawl. Lad, well done,’” he said, reliving his three years as a youth player at the City Ground, the days he spent strolling down the river, with Clough’s labrador, dashing past him and his manager’s voice always within hearing range.

Dyche tells a story of how, as a youth player, he and a few others tended the manager's garden at his home in Quarndon. Our weekly wage was minimal and he paid you a tenner to do his lawn. So we really thought: ‘This is pretty good.’ He’d cook for you and make sure you were well looked after. It was quite fun, not too much yard work.”

In his case, the appointment has been a years in the planning. He lives in the city and has a affection for the club. In recent years, he and his longstanding coach Ian Woan, who was part of the Forest side the last time they were in Europe, in the mid-90s, have sometimes visited the local coffee shop where club icons such as a former player, Colin Barrett and a famous name meet every Thursday to talk old and new tales. He will have to give it a miss this week to get ready for the visit of the Portuguese side, undefeated this campaign, in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the club legends,” remarked the manager, who succeeded the previous coach to become the team's latest head coach of the season. “They will give me a bit of ear-holing if I fail to deliver, so I better win some matches for them. Those guys mean a lot to me. A lot of Forest fans recognise the legacy of this institution. I have personal ties and now I’ve got a chance to reinvent my own story, I guess, as coach.”

The new boss took Forest practice for the initial session on Tuesday, three days after his predecessor oversaw a 3‑0 at home loss by Chelsea that left the club in the top division drop zone. Ryan Yates, who joined as a child, admitted these are early days but Dyche and his team have alleviated some of the gloom.

His staff includes another club icon in Steve Stone, as well as a coach and Tony Loughlan, who played for the club. In my view a huge asset of this club is getting the bond between the supporters, players and manager and, let’s be honest, the recent period we lacked a positive atmosphere around here,” the captain said. “The new manager and his assistants have brought that sense of vitality and enthusiasm.”

He made clear he does not “know the team like the inside out” considering his latest experience at the club has been as an opposition manager, but he thinks he has a wider understanding of the environment and demands. The house rules have been laid. “I’ve let them wear white socks, for heaven's sake,” the manager commented. I expect my former teammates caning me on WhatsApp. But they’re not allowed to wear snoods or hats … I had to do a compromise somewhere.”

The team have lost their last four fixtures and failed to secure a victory since the start of the season. The coach mentioned the proprietor, the Greek businessman, recognised the significance of steadying the situation. He encountered the Greek billionaire in the European competition with Burnley, when his side lost in a playoff against Olympiakos in recent years. Following the initial match Dyche expressed anger at club officials, among them the owner, confronting the officials at the break in the stadium. “We had a bit of a giggle,” Dyche recalled.

Part of Dyche’s attraction is his reputation for building sides with solid foundations, pertinent for a side without a clean sheet in many games. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not bothered,” he said. I don't avoid behind what’s effective. It’s no badge of honour to me. In the past people were going: ‘Why do you rely on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Tight trousers, flared jeans, slim fits, flared jeans … my daughter hammers me for whatever jeans I wear. It seems on social media even I got some criticism for my shoes arriving at practice [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, anyway, don’t like to mention it.”

Dyche is pleased that his early career were at Forest but believes that should not mean he or his team are evaluated in a special way. “There’s no shortcut with the fans, but we do care, that’s a point I don’t think can ever be doubted,” he remarked. “All I dreamt of was wearing the jersey, but I didn't manage to do it. Steve Stone and Woany did, Billy did as a loan goalkeeper, Tony featured and scored a goal. I was the sole person who failed to and they constantly tell me of that.

“For me to have that part of it is a big thing for me individually. But it doesn’t give me a special privilege, believe me. The fans want me to win. If I’m failing, the crowd are going to criticize me because that’s the way supporters work 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 kit, the emblem. Well, currently, I’m here with it on me.”