Rod Petrie comes out fighting to ward potential suitors off Colin Calderwood

Forest's very public level of interest led to the publication of a surprisingly emotive statement from Petrie on the club's official website yesterday.

In it, Petrie warns Forest manager Steve McClaren that he is in "dangerous territory" with regards to his attempt to appoint Calderwood as his assistant at the City Ground. In the same statement, Petrie also makes an uncharacteristic attack on former Hibs manager John Hughes, who he accused of "saddling" the club with an "unworkable legacy" during his time in charge.

Calderwood, who has been manager at Easter Road since October 2010, has been the subject of intense speculation over his future in recent weeks. Both McClaren and Birmingham manager Chris Hughton are keen to recruit the former Scotland internationalist as their No 2. Calderwood has already admitted that it would be a "hard choice" to choose between Hibs and a return south to the Championship.

However, not only has Petrie reminded interested suitors that Calderwood remains under contract, he also reiterated his desire to keep the manager despite his unspectacular record with Hibs. "Hibernian wants Colin Calderwood as its manager," insisted Petrie in his statement. "Hibernian has Colin Calderwood as its manager."

However, Calderwood has managed to win only eight of his 32 matches in charge and has so far refused to commit his future to the Easter Road club. McClaren has also claimed that Calderwood wishes to return to Forest, where he had a two-year spell as manager. Petrie cautioned the former England manager, who shares an agent with Calderwood, against saying too much, reminding Forest that to date they have made one formal inquiry to speak to Calderwood, and that was rejected.

Petrie wrote: "Steve McClaren is quoted today in the Nottingham Post as saying: 'We are trying to negotiate with Hibs, but they do not want to lose him. We are trying to get Colin out of Hibs and it is very difficult.'

"Mr McClaren is in dangerous territory. Nottingham Forest know that their only official approach to Hibernian - a phone call on Friday, 24 June - was rejected. There is nothing to negotiate."

In the opening part of his same statement, Petrie stressed that Calderwood was still wanted at Easter Road and pointed out a run of form towards the end of last season as proof of his credentials.

"Played ten, won six, drawn two, lost two," said Petrie. "These are the sorts of statistics which show why Hibernian wants Colin Calderwood as its manager.

"This was the run of results between the close of the transfer window in January and the split. A selective quoting of statistics, maybe, but their relevance is the fact that these were the matches when the chips were down and the club needed results."Petrie further praised Calderwood for repairing the damage inflicted by Hughes, his predecessor at Easter Road. "We have now stripped away the unworkable legacy saddled upon the club by the previous incumbent," wrote the chairman. Hughes was appointed by Petrie himself in June 2009.

However, despite leading Hibs into Europe in his first season in charge, he was removed from his post in October last year, with his side having own only four of their last 28 matches. Hughes said he had no comment to make when contacted by The Scotsman yesterday.

Hughton, however, underlined his interest in Calderwood. "All this has come about because people are aware that I took Colin to Newcastle," the Birmingham manager said.

"I will be bringing in an assistant and a first-team coach. Colin has been mentioned and we have had dialogue with the Hibs chairman. We have done everything right. We are very conscious that he is their manager."

Petrie was adamant yesterday that there was nothing to negotiate: "No club has permission to speak to the Hibernian manager."