Nottingham Forest create bizarre new role and appoint former referee Mark Clattenburg

Nottingham Forest have reportedly hired former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg as their new referees’ analyst.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have been active in their complaints over VAR and officials' decisions throughout the season.

Forest have expressed frustrations on three notable occasions and their latest appointment could help ease any tensions.

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

The 48-year-old refereed 291 Premier League matches across 13 seasons in the top-flight of English football.

Clattenburg is one of the most respected officials and left in 2017 to take up a role within the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

He has also refereed in Europe, most notably the Euros and Champions League finals in 2016.

The former official is said to have been in attendance at the City Ground on Saturday for Forest's 2-0 win against West Ham.

Their most recent aggrievement came after their 3-2 defeat away at Brentford, that saw Ivan Toney score on his return from a ban.

Forest wrote a letter of complaint to the Premier League because the Bees striker moved the ball a few inches to the right of where the free-kick was awarded.

It went under the radar of VAR and the referee, with the reality of what happened coming to light at half-time.

Forest also complained about referee Stuart Attwell and his fellow officials in their 3-2 defeat against Manchester United in August.

Willy Boly's sending off against Bournemouth in December saw PGMOL head Howard Webb confirm to Santo that an error was made.

Clattenburg watched Forest beat West Ham thanks to goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Callum Hudson-Odoi, with the Hammers finishing with ten men as Kalvin Phillips was sent off.