Nottingham Forest chief executive Paul Faulkner was put on gardening leave yesterday after handing in his resignation.

Faulkner was reported to have stepped down in response to the club’s handling of Stuart Pearce’s departure as manager, and the subsequent appointment of Dougie Freedman as his successor.

The former Aston Villa chief was brought in towards the end of August to help stabilise Forest’s infrastructure following the damaging reign of ex-boss Billy Davies and was working to get the club back in line with financial fair play rules.

Faulkner spent more than three years in the same role at Villa Park, building a solid reputation for himself. But his influence at the City Ground was not the same and it is understood he was not involved in the appointment of Freedman.

In fact, Faulkner had advised Reds owner Fawaz al-Hasawi to be patient with Pearce but the Kuwaiti decided to sack the former Forest captain on Sunday following a run of only three wins in 23 games.

Freedman becomes Hasawi’s seventh manager in two-and-a-half years.