SEAN Dyche has already laid down ground rules for his new Nottingham Forest players – including BANNING hats and snoods.
The former Everton and Burnley manager takes charge for the first time tonight as Forest host Porto in the Europa League.
Dyche is the third manager to be given the job at Forest before the end of October – after Ange Postecoglou was sacked last Saturday.
And he has made it clear what he does not want to see on the training ground.
Asked if he felt the players trust him after meeting for the first time on Tuesday, he said: “It’s early yet but I’d like to think they do their homework, I’d like to think they know enough people in the game and ring around.
“I’ve even let them wear white socks, for goodness sake, I’ve never let anyone do that.
“That’s fair isn’t it? But they’re not allowed to wear snoods or hats,
“I had to do a deal somewhere.”
But Dyche also reckons the flak aimed at Evangelos Marinakis is unfair.
The controversial Greek owner has been criticised for sacking two managers in as many months.
Dyche says the work Marinakis has put in since taking over at the City Ground is immense.
He said: “You can question the owner currently, which a few have.
“But look at the changes from day one to now – they’ve been huge at this football club.
“At the end of the day, the bigger picture is a lot of goodwill and a lot of good feeling around the area.
“There’s a bigger picture to this. Look at where the club was before.”
The former Forest youth team player was at the City Ground when Brian Clough was in charge.
Dyche added: “It just gives you a connection, but I’ve got to relearn some of it.
“I do know the depth of it with the people of Nottingham and people who’ve played for the club.
“It’s rare not to meet a player who hasn’t been touched by this football club.
“We didn’t all make it. I’ve come full circle but it’s not a gimmick, so how can we try to move it forward. That is the challenge.”