Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has provided an update regarding his current contract situation...

What's the word?

As per NottinghamshireLive, the 42-year-old revealed he was unsure as to any potential progress regarding a new deal, with just a year remaining on his existing contract at the City Ground.

Asked for an update regarding any extension, the former Swansea City boss stated: “I don’t know. It’s not something I think about too much, if I’m being honest.

“I think about the team, I think about the staff and just being the best club we can be on a day to day. My real focus is on new players coming in and building on from where we left off at Wembley.”

The previous suggestion has been that an agreement could be close regarding a new long-term deal, although the promotion-winning coach appears to be giving little away - a fact that will only serve to enhance anxiety among the club's supporters.

Supporters worried

The Forest faithful will no doubt be fearful of seeing these contract talks drag on into next season, with the club seemingly not wanting any unnecessary distractions ahead of a campaign that will see them compete in the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

Cooper's stock is no doubt high following his pivotal role in steering the two-time European champions out of the second-tier after over two decades of hurt, with there perhaps concerns that the highly-rated manager could be poached by a top club - hence the urgency to get a new contract sorted.

The Midlands outfit had been in disarray prior to the Welshman's arrival back in September, having found themselves at the foot of the table after recording six defeats in their opening seven Championship games of the season under Chris Hughton.

With relegation on the minds of most, Cooper's appointment sparked an almost instant reversal of fortunes, with Forest going on to only narrowly miss out on an automatic promotion berth, before shaking off that disappointment to edge past Huddersfield Town in the play-off final.

Since then, the one-time England U17 coach - who led the Young Lions to World Cup glory in 2017 - has been backed substantially by owner Evangelos Marinakis, with the club having already made six summer signings thus far.

Arguably the most important piece of business this summer, however, could be tieing the Pontypridd-born gem down for the long-term, with the club unable to afford to lose what is arguably their prize asset.

The longer it takes for Marinakis to act, the more worried that supporters will become.

AND in other news - Imagine him & Awoniyi: Cooper can form deadly duo by signing “stunning” £10m star