Ferguson Jnr in frame as Nottingham Forest sack Steve Cotterill

Darren Ferguson is the early favourite to be the next Nottingham Forest manager after Steve Cotterill was sacked yesterday.

Cotterill met the Championship club's new Kuwaiti owners, who confirmed their takeover on Tuesday, in London where he was told he was not part of their plans. The former Portsmouth and Burnley manager only signed a three-and-a-half year contract in October after replacing Steve McClaren. Cotterill had to contend with tough financial constraints, as well as the death of the club's owner Nigel Doughty in February but steered Forest away from relegation.

A club statement read: "Mr Cotterill met with the Al-Hasawi family and, after long deliberations, they have decided to make a new appointment in a bid to deliver their vision. The club would like to acknowledge their gratitude to Mr Cotterill for guiding it through an extremely difficult and traumatic period."

In addition to Ferguson, manager of Championship rivals Peterborough, early contenders to succeed Cotterill are Roy Keane, Alex McLeish and Mick McCarthy. Rob Kelly, Cotterill's assistant, took pre-season training yesterday and has been placed in temporary charge of the first team.