Everything about Joe Kinnear has changed since his heart attack in 1999, except his sense of humour.

"I’m not allowed to drive to the pub every night - so I walk there," jokes the new Nottingham Forest manager, whose legendary achievements at Wimbledon in the 1990s made him at one stage the most sought-after manager in the country.

Kinnear has every reason to be feeling cheerful right now. He never got the ‘big job’ before his health scare before a match against Sheffield Wednesday, turning down the chance to manage the Republic of Ireland and Spurs opting for Gerry Francis instead of Kinnear.

So, at the age of 57, he finds himself at The City Ground - where Brian Clough once performed miracles by taking the club to two European Cups.

"There’s no doubt this is the biggest club I’ve ever managed in terms on potential and support," says Kinnear.

"I understand my name dropped off the radar because of my condition but I didn’t lose sleep over it. I knew I was ready to grab any opportunity when it came up and it’s finally come."

Kinnear’s appointment suggests there is a management trend to trust in experience.

Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson are both past 60 and in high-pressure Premiership jobs, while 59-year-old David Pleat is the acting manager at Spurs.

In Division One, Burnley’s Stan Ternent is the same age as Kinnear and Cardiff’s Lennie Lawrence will also have 57 candles to blow out in December - spring chickens compared to 63-year-old Dario Gradi at Crewe.

"Years ago, managers would have packed it in at our age but it’s not just players who have benefited from better knowledge about health and diet," says Kinnear.

"Since the heart attack, I’ve really begun to understand how to look after myself and as a result I feel fresh, revitalised and certainly able to cope with a job of this size.

"I have a walking machine and I do five miles on it every day. I don’t drink alcohol. There’s no reason my career won’t last for many years to come."

Ask Kinnear about his track record, and he sees comparisons with Alan Curbishley at Charlton. "We both took smaller clubs regularly into the Premiership top 10 - and I reached three cup semi-finals with Wimbledon as well," he says proudly.

He won promotion at Luton after recovering his health and now has the biggest challenge of the lot in the east Midlands.

Two battling draws have given Kinnear hope that Forest can beat the drop from Division One this season - but his longer-term ambitions are far greater.

"If we can beat relegation, we will have the opportunity to win promotion to the Premiership next season. All I will say to the chairman is that if I am given the tools to work with, there is every chance I can achieve it," he insists.

Kinnear helped develop the likes of Neil Sullivan, Jason Euell and Robbie Earle at Wimbledon on gates of less than 10,000.

There is also a young gem at Forest in Republic of Ireland left-sided youngster Andy Reid, still only 21.

"He is a very talented boy and there are high hopes he can reach the Damien Duff standard," says Kinnear.

"I’ve known about him for a couple of years. I’ve seen him play loads of times for Ireland under-21s and tried to sign him on loan at Luton.

"I was watching reserve games a couple of years ago to see who was available and was taken with this kid I saw play against Wolves.

"It turned out to be Andy Reid. I enquired about him but the manager Paul Hart said he had loads of potential and was on the fringe of the first-team.

"He got into Forest’s first team a few months later and he has been in the same side ever since.

"There’s no doubt Andy is gifted and has been in electric form. I will tell him to be a top player he has to do it week-in, week-out.

"Damien also went into first-team football early and he’s grown up and understands the game. Andy has been given his head, he’s already played nearly 100 first-team matches, and it’s rare these days to have special players on the left-hand side."

At 57, Kinnear is beginning all over again. Who knows where it will end?