We can now add ol’ Colin Calderwood to the ex-manager list, as the hapless Scot is given his P45. Quite a miserable Christmas for poor old Colin I should imagine, but then he must’ve seen it coming - even if his demeanor in interviews did not seem to suggest it.

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So after a growing feeling of unrest, and what was by all accounts a cataclysmically bad performance against Doncaster on Boxing Day, the curtain finally came down on Colin Calderwood’s tenure at Nottingham Forest.

His sacking by a remote Nigel Doughty, actioned by his puppet Mark Arthur comes at a tricky time. Any new manager will be thrust straight into the January transfer window with very little time to assess the squad - though the  fans in the stands can doubtless suggest many positions where a new face is required.

Added to that is the matter of a number of load deals that Colin Calderwood agreed which end on December 31st - Lee Camp being the most prominent on a sizeable list.

So what of Colin Calderwood?

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Now then,

I am using the latest version of Windows Swan Vesta Word and really have no idea how it works. If everything turns to claptrap, you should not be amazed, it often does.

Southampton at the weekend was a very pleasant surprise – our best away win this season. Southampton and Coventry used to be Premiership teams that would stay in the Premiership every season by a miracle. Southampton’s miracle was called Matthew Le Tissier – a footballer from Guernsey I think: fat and useless to look at, but he saved Southampton every season.

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Dear loyal voters*,

(*I know you would vote for me if you had the chance. In fact, so confident of this was I, I decided it really wasn’t worth going to the effort of having a general election just to find out what we already knew.)

It really is an honour for me to be invited to deliver this year’s LTLF Christmas message, particularly as recently my own party have stopped inviting me to anything, even by-elections.

I admit I’m not the most popular person in the country at the moment (let’s face it – if you came across me and Gary Glitter buried up to our heads in the sand, you would have to stop and think about who to kick first), but I sense that I would be welcomed by Nottingham Forest fans. After all, you seem to have a great deal of patience for Scotsmen in positions of power, even when things are going very very badly.

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John Robertson

A Scottish apprentice who got into the first team reckoning and made his first League appearance in 1970, steadily going out of favour with the manager Alan Brown suddenly made a U turn on the arrival of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. Talent that was raw and hidden by a casual approach to football in general. An overweight smoker who looked like a Sunday league player turned out to be arguably the best winger in the world.

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Nigel Jemson and Mark Crossley were guest speakers at another of The Approach’s “An Audience With….” series.

After a slightly late start, compere Darren Fletcher introduced Nigel Jemson (to a chorus of “who ate all the pies?!”) who proceeded to amuse and enlighten us with stories about his career, many of which, unsurprisingly, involved Brian Clough.

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Now then,

Forest against Blackpool reminded me of this:

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We’ve been on a bit of a publicity drive this week promoting the LTLF ‘Ladies in Red Calendar’ this week, including an interview on Central News (about 17 minutes in if you can get the video to work) and coverage in the press and blogosphere.

It all culminates in our launch party tonight at the Southbank Bar on Trent Bridge, which will feature a live band (Nottingham’s own The Establishment), charity raffle and the models themselves in person. Entry is free for what promises to be an entertaining evening raising lots of money for Help for Heroes, so if you’re in the area, we hope to see you down there later on!

Those who have already ordered calendars can expect to receive them in the next few days and those who haven’t done so already have until 17 December to order theirs in time for Christmas (subject to availability).

Check out some of the pics at: http://www.ltlf.co.uk/calendar/

LTLF’s second annual Christmas auction is now under way, raising money for our campaign to sponsor a player in the 2009/10 season. We have some great items signed by the biggest names in sport which would make a great Christmas present for someone you love – or just yourself!

Up for grabs are:

Signed England 1966 World Cup Shirt
Signed Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad & Samit Patel mini cricket bats
Sir Henry Cooper Signed Boxing Glove Display
John Robertson signed photo display
European Cup 1980 poster signed by John McGovern and Kevin Keegan

You can view all the items in the Market Place forum.

LTLF Star Members can now win tickets to The Approach’s latest ‘Audience With’ event in which Forest legends Mark Crossley and Nigel Jemson will be discussing their careers and taking questions from the floor. Norm and Jemmo will be appearing at the Nottingham bar on Tuesday, 16 December, and the night will also coincide with the BallsMania Christmas Party. Tickets are available from The Approach priced at £10 (or £29.95 with a three course meal) and can be booked by calling 0115 950 6149.

Become a Star Member to enter the competition and help with our campaign to sponsor a Forest player in the 2009/10 season. Star Membership for this season costs £6 and entitles you to enter the great competitions we will be running throughout the season. If you are a Star Member already, head over to the Star Members forum and check out the competition thread.