The career of Sean O'Driscoll: New Nottingham Forest manager?

Sean O'Driscoll is believed to have been interviewed for the role of Nottingham Forest manager.

The Crawley Town boss has reportedly emerged as a shock contender for the job, although this has been denied by Crawley chief executive Alan Williams.

Williams said: "Sean is our manager and looking forward to the season with Crawley Town. As far as I know Forest have already offered the job to Hoddle.”

O'Driscoll has been with Crawley since May this year, after turning down the offer to remain with Forest at the end of last season.

O'Driscoll enjoyed a successful playing career before moving into management. He played as a midfielder for Fulham between 1979 and 1984, during which time he made 148 appearances.

In 1984 he signed with Bournemouth, where he would see out the rest of his playing days. He became part of the club’s furniture, making more than 400 appearances before being appointed manager in August 2000.

He managed the Cherries for six years, during which time he took them took into League One.

According to a BBC feature on O'Driscoll, published on the eve of his exit from Bournemouth: “In his role as [Bournemouth] manager he presided over some of the most successful times the club has experienced.

“O'Driscoll's positive approach [was] rubbing off wonderfully as crowds flocked to Dean Court to see an exciting young team emerging.”

But in 2002, Chairman Peter Phillips gave Sean O'Driscoll and Peter Grant six matches to turn things around after a poor start to the new season in Division Three. The Cherries were relegated from Division Two the season previous.

Phillips told the Bournemouth official website: "We have made a poor start, and Sean and Peter know they have six games to turn things round.

"I want to emphasise that in every other way, Sean is doing an outstanding job for this club. He is an excellent coach, extremely dedicated and hard working.

"However, professional football is a harsh business and like all managers, Sean knows that he is judged on results. Results are poor and time is running out."

In 2006, after 22 years at Dean Court, O'Driscoll left the club to become manager at Doncaster Rovers.

The following year he won the League One manager of the month for January, and steered Doncaster to promotion into the Championship.

In January 2010 O'Driscoll spoke publicly of how he could never have abandoned his principles by leaving the club when Burnley expressed an interest. He was given permission to speak to the club, and was quickly installed as favourite for the job.

However, the two clubs were unable to agree a compensation package. O'Driscoll told Sky Sports: "One of my options was to walk, but I made it very clear from day one that that was one of the things I wasn't prepared to do.

"You try and tell the players to do the right things and I don't think walking out on anything is the right thing to do.

"I don't think I could ever be labelled a hypocrite. I stick to my principles and try and work as hard as I can to make those things successful."

By 2011, Doncaster Rovers were struggling, and in September, with the club bottom of the table with only one point from seven matches, O'Driscoll was relieved of his duties.

In December he began advising Plymouth Argyle manager Carl Fletcher, who he had coached as a youngster at Dean Court.

In the months that followed, O'Driscoll was linked with a number of clubs. In January this year, reports suggested O'Driscoll was in line to be named the new Bristol Rovers manager.

But later that month 54-year-old O'Driscoll joined the Nottingham Forest coaching set-up, being appointed first-team coach.

Then-manager Steve Cotterill said: “I've no doubts he will be a great addition to my backroom team."

His solid performance prompted Cotterill to speak publicly about his desire to persuade O'Driscoll to remain part of the coaching team at the City Ground.

Cotterill told the Nottingham Evening Post: “I think he has enjoyed his time at Forest and I would love to see him stay. Hopefully, he will be a part of things again next season.”

But O'Driscoll returned to management in May, becoming manager of Crawley Town.

Reds chief executive Alan Williams told BBC Sport at the time: “The appointment of our next manager was the key to the future success of the club. We are 100 per cent convinced that we have made the perfect appointment.

“Sean brings with him a wealth of experience and a track record of success which matches the ambition of this football club.”