Former striker Garry Birtles believes the Nottingham Forest fans should be very excited about the future - despite the recent sacking of manager Steve Cotterill.

Cotterill lost his job sacked on Wednesday following the takeover of the club by the Al-Hasawi family. The new owners said in a statement that they have decided to make a new appointment to deliver their "long-term vision for the club", with a press conference scheduled for Saturday.

The former Cheltenham and Burnley boss helped to stabilise Forest's Championship status last term after a terrible start to the season. But Birtles, who praised Cotterill for his efforts at Forest, said it was always likely that the new owners would want to bring in their own man.

"When new owners come in they usually want a clean sweep and a fresh start and they probably have some high profile names that they want to talk to, to progress the team forward and get them into the Premier League which they have craved for a long time," he told Sky Sports News HD.

"They have been down to League One, which they hated obviously. It was only 30-odd years ago when they won back-to-back European Cups - a lot of people still remember that - and the new owners want to embrace that history.

"So I think they want a clean break and to bring somebody with experience in and if they are talking the money that is supposed to go with the takeover - I believe they are very, very wealthy people - then I am sure the Forest fans will be very, very excited by what is going on."

Redknapp

Of those linked to the now vacant managerial post, Birtles - who made more than 200 appearances for the club in two stints - hopes Harry Redknapp can be persuaded to re-launch his managerial career in the Championship with a hefty war chest to invest in the squad.

"Harry Redknapp was the first one that I was told about," he said. "That excites me very, very much. He was harshly denied the chance to take over England, did a fantastic job at Tottenham and he would be an unbelievable move. Whether that would happen or not, I don't know. He has been linked with the Russia job, would he step down to the Championship?

"If he did step down and the people who are coming in are as wealthy as they say, then may be the funds will be made available to get the players that are need to get Forest into the Premier League."

Risk

While Birtles pointed out there are no guarantees that the anticipated injection of cash would lead to sustained success - citing the experiences of Portsmouth, Notts County, Leicester City and Derby - he believes there is every reason to be optimistic about a new era at Forest.

"If they do get the right manager in and the players come to the club, then there would be reason to be excited," he said.

"They have not had many reasons to be excited at Forest over the last number of years. There has not been a great deal of stability with new managers coming in, new horizons, new hopes and they have not quite materialised.

"Maybe this time, with the talk of the wealth of these guys, every Forest fan is very excited by it and I can't wait for the press conference on Saturday."