Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray says the sacking of Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper is no major surprise.

Cooper was axed by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis on Tuesday.

Murray told BBC Sport: "It has been such a romance between Cooper and Nottingham Forest and their re-emergence into the top flight.

"But am I surprised regardless of results on the field? I am not.

"It almost feels like they could not wait to get rid of him in some way and bring someone else in.

"He has had a dressing room full of players in his first year in the Premier League. He has done extraordinary well to gel them together to get them playing together and to keep them in the Premier League.

"As far as I am concerned, the second season in the Premier League, the prerogative does not change - stay in the Premier League.

"I am surprised by it and I am not on the other hand."