Nottingham Forest have sacked their sporting director Filippo Giraldi after six months. The Italian, whose previous jobs include a nine-year spell at Watford, departs with the club in relegation zone. Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, said last week that it was time for everyone at the club, from the “owners, to the board, our supporters, backroom staff, coaches and players, to come together and fight to secure our status in the Premier League”. His statement, in which he warned that results and performances had to “improve immediately”, was perceived as leaving the manager Steve Cooper’s job in doubt but the first departure has been Giraldi’s. Since Marinakis’s comments, Forest have lost to Aston Villa. They said of Giraldi: “He leaves the club amicably with our best wishes. Filippo would like to place on record his thanks to the club and wishes Nottingham Forest best of luck for the future.” Forest made seven signings during Giraldi’s stay.