Meanwhile, the Forest players at the club were reflecting on what they might have done better to save the Australian's job, with captain Ryan Yates saying they should also take the blame for their current dismal run of results.

Postecoglou's miserable time mercifully came to an end 20 minutes after the full-time whistle as he became the first Forest manager to fail to win any of his first eight games in charge.

The speed of the dismissal caught even the players off guard as Postecoglou was sacked even before he could fulfil his post-match media duties, with the 60-year-old leaving The City Ground immediately after speaking to the team.

"I'll be honest. Ange came in after the game, debriefed the game and then I went out to do some running. I came back and news had broke that he had gone," Yates revealed.

"Everybody has to take responsibility. I think it would be unfair to pin it on anybody.

"We have to look ourselves in the mirror and dust ourselves down and go again because things in football can change really quickly. That's what we are going to be thinking about."

As the rest of the results played out over the course of the day, Forest slipped into the relegation zone and now sits 18th with five points from eight games, two points behind Burnley in 17th.

Without a win in any competition since its season opener, including the UEFA Europa League where it is 25th in the standings, Forest is looking for a third manager to take charge this season after Postecoglou replaced Nuno Espirito Santo.

"Partly we are to blame [for Postecoglou's sacking] because we are the guys going out on the pitch and trying to get results," Yates added.

"Things in football can change very quickly. With a good result on Thursday night [Friday AEDT against Porto in the UEFA Europa League], we can get that good feeling back and we kick in."

British media reported former Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche is in the frame to come in and steady the ship while Roberto Mancini, who guided Manchester City to its first Premier League title, is also seen as an option for the beleaguered club.