McClaren in Forest exit?

Nottingham Forest manager Steve McClaren is on the verge of walking out on the club less than three months into the job, as he is frustrated by the lack of transfer activity at the City Ground during the summer.

Reports in The Daily Mail and The Telegraph indicate that the former England boss has retreated to his family home in the North East to consider his future, with Forest missing out on a number of targets on transfer deadline day.

McClaren was lured back to the United Kingdom after a number of years working on the continent by the promise of financial backing from owner Nigel Doughty, which has not been forthcoming.

Whilst the likes of West Ham and Leicester City spent big to add to their squads before the window shut, McClaren has had to make do with just £2 million being spent, and is said to be distraught at what he feels is a lack of backing by the club.

The Championship side have added Jonathan Greening and Ishmael Miller to their squad for the combined £2 million, whilst George Boateng, Matt Derbyshire and Andy Reid joining on free transfers.

The Ex-Twente boss was thought to be keen to sign Leeds attacker Max Gradel on Wednesday, but missed out as the player moved to Ligue 1 outfit St Etienne. The Midlands club had offered £1 million, and Doughty would not match the Elland Road side’s valuation of £2 million.

The situation is similar to the one that faced previous manager Billy Davies, with all of Forest’s transfer activity overlooked by a transfer panel, which has halted potential deals.