Gary Neville fumes at Mark Clattenburg’s ’embarrassing’ new role at Nottingham Forest

Gary Neville has branded Nottingham Forest's decision to appoint Mark Clattenburg as a referee analyst as 'a step too far'.

The former official - who refereed 291 Premier League matches across 13 seasons - has been brought in by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis following a number of controversial decisions going against the club since they returned to the top flight.

According to The Telegraph, Clattenburg has been added to the City Ground's staff in a bid to 'improve understanding and relationships'.

But for former England and Manchester United defender Neville, he's struggling to see the logic behind the decision.

Speaking to Sky Sports from Luton's Kenilworth Road on Sunday, the Salford City co-owner immediately raised his hand in the air to illustrate his disbelief as soon as he was asked about the appointment.

He said: “Honestly, I think - for a start over the last four of five weeks we haven't talked too much about VAR. There's been the odd decision here and there but it's actually got a lot better in the last five to six weeks.

"There haven't been many decisions that have been that bad in my opinion. Every team will whinge when they get a bad decision, we used to do whinge all the time. But what is Mark Clattenburg doing? I’ve worked with Mark. What are you doing?

"You’re being employed to go and tell a football club how referees are making mistakes or what mistakes they’re making. I mean, it's plainly obvious. A fan in the crowd could go and tell you exactly what a referee is thinking."

Aside from believing Clattenburg's role wouldn't bring much benefit to the club, Neville also took issue with how it makes Forest look from the outside looking in, too.

"I’m disappointed with Nottingham Forest," he continued. "It’s as if, look at all of this, woe me. Look, I get it, some teams feel as though they’ve been hard done to, some teams feel they’ve had bad decisions against them.

"That happens sometimes during a season and I would have hated it. You're speaking to someone who would have been furious if we had one bad decision against us. But to employ an ex-referee to tell you why you’re having decisions against you, for me, I think it’s a step too far."

Neville did however want to make it clear his criticism was aimed the club hierarchy and Clattenburg, rather than the fans, given they were likely to share the same view as him.

"This is not an attack on Nottingham Forest fans because some of them will probably think it’s embarrassing," he said. "They won’t like the decisions against them, but I’m sure they won’t sit there and think that’s a really good move by the club.”

A large number of Forest fans did take to social media to express their views on the unusual appointment - and they seem to be split on whether it's a wise move from the club.

"Jeff [Stelling] discussing why we appointed Clattenburg on talkSPORT next. I am baffled myself lol," one fan wrote on X, as he listened into to talkSPORT's Breakfast show.

Another fan reposted a clip of Maxwel Cornet's challenge on Neco Williams in the penalty area in the 2-0 win over West Ham and said: "Clattenburg you're going to be a busy, busy man."

Forest moved away from the dreaded relegation zone on Saturday, jumping above Crystal Palace to sit in 16th and go five points clear of the drop.