Nottingham Forest statement says a lot as Nuno Espirito Santo sacked three games into season

Nottingham Forest have axed Nuno Espirito Santo with the club pointing to "recent circumstances" as they announced his departure late on Monday night - merely three matches into the Premier League campaign.

Nuno had overseen the club's finest season in three decades, securing European qualification, but friction has emerged in recent weeks with the Portuguese gaffer openly confessing his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had deteriorated.

The Greek tycoon has previously shown no mercy when dispatching managers and has struck again with the public barbs between the duo undoubtedly prompting Nuno's exit from the City Ground.

Everything seemed rosy at the conclusion of last term with Forest claiming seventh spot and booking their Europa League place, but Nuno's choice to air his grievances publicly appears to have sparked the mutual parting of ways, reports the Mirror.

The club opened their statement by declaring: "Nottingham Forest Football Club confirms that, following recent circumstances, Nuno Espírito Santo has today been relieved of his duties as Head Coach."

Whilst they recognised that Nuno had been integral to a "very successful era" their mention of recent events strongly hints that the public remarks concerning Marinakis and their fractured relationship have been crucial in the verdict. Earlier in the summer the now former Forest manager said: "I always had a very good relationship with the owner - last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis. This season it is not so well. Our relationship has changed and we are not as close. Everybody at the club should be together, but this is not the reality."

Sky Sports subsequently reported that Marinakis and the Forest hierarchy were bewildered by Nuno's remarks. They had no plans to dismiss him from his position and sought to rebuild harmony, but that has evidently not been accomplished.

It was believed that transfer dealings may have been a source of friction. Former Arsenal executive Edu arrived to assume a senior role, but Forest nevertheless completed 13 summer acquisitions, spending approximately £196m, whilst also keeping hold of Morgan Gibbs-White despite interest from Tottenham.