Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper was left with tears in his eyes after a banner was unveiled during the game against Aston Villa earlier this season.
Cooper was lauded as a hero in the red half of Nottingham after guiding Forest to Premier League promotion via the play-offs last season, but it seemed that the Reds' poor form on their return to the top flight was likely to cost the Welshman his job.
Rumours were rife that he was on his way out with Forest after the defeat to Leicester City with the club rock-bottom of the Premier League, despite fans and pundits claiming his previous success meant he deserved more time to rescue the Reds.
But instead of the sack, Forest's owners answered the crisis facing the club by giving Cooper a new contract, much to the delight of Reds fans, who unveil a huge banner showing their support for the manager when Villa came to the City Ground on October 10.
According to BT Sport commentator and Reds fan Darren Fletcher, the gesture almost brought Cooper to tears.
READ MORE: Forest transfer state of play as injury list grows
READ MORE: Forest face six big transfer decisions ahead of January window
Fletcher told the Garibaldi Red podcast : "I hope people realise how genuine his feelings are. I was born here, raised here, live here, won't leave here.... I've seen a lot [of Forest managers].
"A lot of managers have come and said a lot of things and they don't really mean it. There haven't been too many genuine managers in my lifetime - Brian [Clough] would be one, Paul Hart would be another, and then you have to start looking at the fella we've got now.
"A lot of them who came in between have been short-term things, never really got the city. I think we are quite lucky at the minute having a fella that can connect with everybody the way he does. This place means the world to him.
"If you could put that on the big screen and show the fans - they love him to death now but they'd love him even more.
"I sometimes after a game go and have a beer with him, and he'll come in, sit down and make a casual passing comment about what's happened that day. The night against Aston Villa when the banners were unfurled - I'll tell you a story.
"He came in after the game and it was a draw, things were looking a little bit bleak and he sat down in his chair and he didn't speak straight away. He looked up at me and said, 'We're bottom of the league and they've just done that. They've just done that for me. I was stood on the touchline, the cameras were on and I've gone [with tears]'.
"It meant that much to him that night, that show of support from the fans. He doesn't need that because he knows what they feel, but he connects with fans the way that they connect with him. I hope people know that."
Forest are currently 19th in the Premier League, but a home win over Chelsea on New Year's Day could see them escape the relegation zone for the first time since the start of September.
What business should Forest do in January? Have your say in the comments below
READ NEXT
