An end to the nonsense? Na, just a twist.

When Billy arrived I described the appointment as like Forest taking some medicine; it would leave a nasty taste in the mouth but we would get better.

A pretty good assessment even if I do say so myself.

Billy arrived with the air of certain doom with us heading straight back to league 1. After 2-4 home defeat to Donny, ND called an end to the Calderwood era. It was decisive action and whilst the appointment of Billy was devisive, nobody was complaining when he worked a minor miracle and dragged us off the bottom of the league to safety. Building on that momentum into the summer of 2009 we had the best spending spree of his tenure. That momentum has effectively evaporated now after two seasons of many more highs than lows. With so many out of contract and the ambitions of players and supporters unfulfilled, there was a sense of "end of the road" about affairs after defeat to Swansea. Instead of the decisiveness that ushered the end of Calderwood, we've had a month of public stick or twist.

What has happened since the end of the season shows (as if more evidence were needed) that how Forest handle the media leaves a lot to be desired. Whilst the appointment of the new manager (Steve McClaren or whoever) is pivotal, surely to goodness other positions need to be reviewed. Billy's failings have always been laid bare, but the club's are too. It's about time they clean up their act, appoint someone capable of handling the media with aplomb instead of a continuing string of PR blunders. Finally, today after a week of Evening Post reports of "stick", following 2 summit meetings, the club finally "twist". Billy leaves with things in better shape than when he arrived, but few will be sobbing if his successor can combine a more diplomatic handling of the club's own hierarchy and media with results on the field. I'd say thank you to Billy - he was entertaining but his verbals was becoming tiresome.

Anyhow the new (potential) manager... We all know all that there is to know about Steve McClaren - he was England Manager after all. His Dutch exploits contributed massively to rebuilding a reputation left in tatters by his England mauling. Twente were not the biggest name in Dutch football, so whilst that league might not have the profile and cache of the EPL, coming out top against the likes of Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV shouldn't be overlooked. He does have a reputation as an excellent "coach" as opposed to manager. When people talking glowingly about him, it is "coach" the term they use.

What that might mean for us is Doughty's reluctance to splash the cash on big signings. I've read about rumblings of discontent that the high outlay route didn't yield the success so long for craved, whilst Norwich's low spend route with signings from lower league clubs did.

Doughty cannot seem to make up his mind on this issue. Of course he spends as he likes and isn't an Abramovich with limitless funds. Presumbly he things McClaren can improve and develop current and new blood and may also appeal to higher profile players that might be surplus to requirements elsewhere.

We will all wait and see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully, it's the start of a era of sustained success.