Deadwood must go now to save Forest's season

This has not been a very good week for Forest by any stretch of the imagination. This time last week we were all looking forward to the Carlisle game with the knowledge that victory would put us back in second place. Six days later, and we now suddenly find ourselves eight points adrift of Doncaster, and now face almost certain humiliation in the play-offs – if we should be so lucky to even qualify for them.

The Carlisle game was always going to be difficult, but only managing a goalless draw at Crewe, who lie just a few points above the relegation zone, is nothing short of a disgrace. Traditionally Gresty Road has been a happy hunting ground, but not on this occasion. Crewe didn't trouble us at all, and it would only have taken one goal to finish them off, but the players didn't seem bothered, and it's blatantly obvious to just about everyone – except Nigel Doughty and Mark Arthur it seems – that Colin Calderwood has well and truly shot it. The players do not want to play for him. The supporters can't stand him. He's at the point of no return. If by some miracle we end up getting promoted through the play-offs, do you really want this buffoon unleashed on the Championship? We would almost certainly come straight back down with him in charge. Doughty would not learn from his mistakes of three seasons ago and just leave it until too late before he sacked him.

At least if we stay in League One, we will get rid of Deadwood, and then we can start moving forward. There is no way he will stay. Arthur has intimated that he is good as gone anyway if we don't go up. Why they are leaving it until the end of the season, though, I don't know. I think the fact that we are well placed for a play-off place and have 12 games remaining would be a good selling-point for a new manager. As usual, you get people saying 'it's all very well sacking Calderwood, but who do we bring in?' Well, I'm sorry, but that does not wash with me. If Doughty can't find a suitable replacement, then quite frankly he should not be Chairman. In my opinion, he shouldn't be Chairman anyway, but that's another issue for now.

There was an interesting suggestion on Talk Forest that the reserve manager John Pemberton should take over for the rest of the season. I actually think that's a good call. He's done really well with the second string, taking them thirteen points clear of the chasing pack. He's won 13 out of 14 games in Division One Central, so he must be doing something right. I'm not for one minute suggesting that he has what it takes to make the grade as a first team manager, but I think he would be capable of seeing us through to the end of the season. Remember what happened with Charlie McParland and Frank Barlow? The players were so relieved to be finally rid of Gary Megson and they went on a wonderful winning run, which only just stopped short of landing us a play-off place. I don't think McParland and Barlow had much to do with it. The players were so rejuvenated that they were practically managing themselves. I'm not saying that the same thing would happen this time, but I am absolutely sure we'd see a positive change in the players' attitude.

I just feel totally empty about the rest of the season if Deadwood remains in charge. But if a new manager came in on Monday morning, I would feel so excited. Come on, Forest, please, for god's sake do something right for once.