Mark Clattenburg quits role as Nottingham Forest referee analyst just two months after taking up the job

Mark Clattenburg has sensationally quit his role as referee analyst on the Nottingham Forest board.

The former Premier League referee admits his position had become “more of a hindrance than a help” for the Midlands club.

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Clattenburg took up the role in February and was tasked with helping the club’s players and staff understand the VAR process in more detail.

But that role has seen him become embroiled in controversy after key decisions went against the team, most recently in last month’s 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

In a statement released on Friday, Clattenburg said: “I am announcing that I will no longer be providing match analysis services to Nottingham Forest Football Club. Since February this year, I am proud to have done so as part of A consultancy agreement between the NFFC and Referee Consultant Ltd.

“I have performed my services under the consultancy contract in good faith, to the best of my ability and in the hope of using my extensive experience as a match official to assist the NFFC in understanding how decisions concerning key incidents of the match are taken as part of the operation of VAR.

“However, it is now clear that the existence and performance of these advisory services has caused unintended friction between the NFFC and other participants, to the extent that they have become more of a hindrance than a help to the NFFC.

“This also led to undeserved targeting of me personally by some participants and experts. Such reactions and results were not expected and are regrettable, as I sincerely believe that there is a place and value in such a role in the modern game.

“I am grateful to the NFFC and wish them all the best for the remainder of the season and into the future. It has been an honor.”

Clattenburg found themselves in a precarious position when Forest punched the referee during their clash against relegation rivals Everton.

He had spoken to PGMOL chief Howard Webb about appointing Stuart Atwell as VAR despite being a Luton Town fan.

Forest claim they were denied three penalties and Atwell failed to direct match referee Anthony Taylor to the pitchside monitors.

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Webb admitted this week that one of the three incidents should have resulted in a penalty.