Joe Kinnear has launched a blistering attack on former Nottingham Forest players - claiming they are destroying the club by living in the past.
The 57-year-old resigned as Forest boss yesterday claiming he was hounded by fans and the media during his nine-month reign at the club.
Kinnear believes former players put too much emphasis on remembering Forest's successful era under Brian Clough when they won the title and back-to-back European Cups.
Kinnear said: "I am sick and tired of listening about the glory days. They (ex-Forest players) need a reality check.
"It is always the same old stuff - 'when I did it in my day', 'when we did this and that'. It's gone - it's history.
"This club has got to start looking at itself and realise they are in a scrap."
Kinnear claimed his position at the City Ground was undermined from the very start.
"When I first took over everyone was going on about the Brian Clough days, including the ex-players who now pontificate on radio shows, chat shows and phone-ins.
"They show no respect to the club or myself. It is in a time warp, a nigh-on impossible task. When they were not prepared to listen then I decided it is time to move on and look for another opportunity."
Kinnear's start at Forest was successful, taking the club on an impressive run and keeping them in the Coca-Cola Championship.
Expectations were raised for the new season but the club have won only four games in their league campaign.
And fans were given a reminder of the glory days with the death of former manager Clough.
Ironically, Forest won their first league game of the season just after Clough's passing, a 2-1 win against West Ham. However, Kinnear could not inspire an unbeaten run and believes fans and ex-Forest players treated him unfairly.
"I thought it was grossly unfair and I could not take it any more," he added.
Mick Harford takes control of first-team matters for tonight's clash with Leicester. Kinnear wants Harford and coach Des Walker to be appointed on a permanent basis.
"I have suggested that, because they are a young team. But I plead with the fans to give them time.
"I would plead with all fans to give them, and the rest of the staff, a chance to turn it around," he told BBC Radio.
The former Republic of Ireland international is now looking for a return to the top flight, where he had a successful spell with Wimbledon between 1992 and 1997.
"I am going to make myself available now as soon as possible and look to the future, who knows what is round there. I would dearly love to get back in the Premiership," he told Sky Sports.
