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“This emblem is more significant than any manager,” the new Forest boss stated at his introduction as the club's manager, sporting a training kit with his initials. He then, amended his statement. “Well, there was one manager who was probably as important as the crest – everyone recognizes who that was.”} Following that, an impression of the legendary manager, an attempt at that unique drawl. “‘Young ginger, well done,’” he said, reminiscing about his time as a trainee at the club's stadium, the period he spent wandering down the Trent, with Clough’s labrador, dashing past him and his boss's voice invariably within earshot.

The coach shares a anecdote of how, as a youngster, he and a few others tended Clough’s garden at his residence in the area. “We were on £28.50 a week and he paid you a tenner to do his garden. So we actually thought: ‘This is decent.’ He’d cook for you and ensure you were well looked after. It was rather enjoyable, not too much yard work.”

For Dyche, the appointment has been a long time in the planning. He lives in the city and has a affection for the team. In recent years, he and his long-term coach his deputy, who was part of the Forest side the previous occasion they were in European competition, in 1995‑96, have occasionally popped into the local coffee shop where club icons such as Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and Garry Birtles meet every week to talk stories from past and present. He will have to give it a miss this week to prepare for the arrival of the Portuguese side, undefeated this season, in the European tournament on Thursday evening.

I can't wait to meeting the miracle men,” said Dyche, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou to become Forest’s latest head coach of the term. I'll get an earful if I don’t do too well, so I better secure some games for them. Those fellows mean a lot to me. A great deal of Forest fans appreciate the legacy of this club. I have personal ties and now I’ve got a opportunity to reinvent my own history, I suppose, as manager.”

Dyche oversaw Forest practice for the first time on Tuesday, three days after Postecoglou watched a 3‑0 at home defeat by Chelsea that placed the club in the top division drop zone. the club captain, who joined aged eight, admitted these are early days but Dyche and his staff have alleviated some of the negativity.

Dyche’s staff features one more Forest hero in a former player, as well as a coach and Tony Loughlan, who featured for the team. “I feel like a huge strength of this club is fostering the connection between the fans, players and manager and, let’s be honest, the last few weeks we lacked a positive atmosphere around here,” the captain said. “The new manager and his staff have brought that sense of life and enthusiasm.”

He made clear he doesn't “know the team like the back of my hand” given his most recent encounter at Forest has been as an opposition manager, but he thinks he has a wider understanding of the place and expectations. The house rules have been set. I allowed the players wear white socks, for goodness sake,” the manager commented. “I’ll have my former teammates caning me on WhatsApp. But they’re forbidden to wear snoods or hats … I had to make a deal somewhere.”

The team have been defeated in their last four fixtures and not won since the opening day. The coach mentioned the proprietor, the Greek businessman, recognised the importance of stabilising things. Dyche encountered the wealthy individual in the Europa League with his former club, when his side lost in a qualifier against Olympiakos in recent years. After the first leg Dyche expressed anger at Olympiakos dignitaries, including the owner, approaching the officials at the break in the stadium. We laughed about it,” Dyche recalled.

One aspect of his appeal is his reputation for building teams with strong foundations, relevant for a team without a shutout in many games. “I’ve been put in many boxes, I’m not bothered,” he said. I don't avoid behind what’s successful. It’s no point of pride to me. In the past people were going: ‘Why do you depend on dead balls?’ Now they’re popular. Tight trousers, wide-leg pants, skinny jeans, bell-bottoms … my daughter hammers me for any jeans I wear. Apparently on social media even I got some criticism for my trainers arriving at practice [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. A brand [trainers] but, anyway, prefer not to bring it up it.”

Dyche is proud that his formative years were at Forest but believes that should not mean he or his team are evaluated 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 jersey, but I didn't manage to achieve it. Stoney and Woany did, Billy Mercer did as a loan goalkeeper, Tony featured and scored a strike. I was the only one who failed to and they keep reminding me of that.

“For me to have that connection of it is a big thing for me individually. But it doesn't grant me a special privilege, believe me. The supporters want me to win. If I’m failing, the crowd are going to come at me because how supporters behave and I’ve got no issue with that because it's the truth. I was here as a youth and didn't get to wear the kit, the emblem. Well, now, I’m here with it wearing it.”