The statue of Brian Clough to be unveiled in Nottingham on Thursday has been given the total approval of the person who knew him best – his wife Barbara.

She will perform the ceremony on Thursday, November 6 near the award-winning Old Market Square where the lasting tribute to the former Nottingham Forest manager will rest. And Mrs Clough will do so happy in the knowledge that the sculpture of her husband is ‘just perfect’.

She visited the studio of world-renowned sculptor Les Johnson to see the eight-foot high clay figure in its final days of creation and was delighted with the work. Said Mrs Clough: “My daughter Elizabeth and I travelled down to Hampshire to see Mr Johnson and the statue and we just looked at each other and said ‘It’s perfection’. It took our breath away.

“Les has done a marvellous job and captured Brian’s personality so remarkably well. I know the facial features of a statue can often be hard for a sculptor to recreate and we were asked if we wanted to suggest any changes but I can honestly say that it did not need any improvements. It’s Brian exactly.

“The sculpture will be a fitting tribute and I look forward to unveiling the bronze statue next month. I am sure the many fans who supported the statue fund and the small group of volunteers who worked hard to organise it will be very pleased with the final result too.”

The seal of approval from the Clough family obviously delighted Mr Johnson, who said: “To hear their comments meant everything. It’s been a very exciting project for me.”

The statue is the result of a fund-raising campaign by a small group of volunteers from the Brian Clough Statue Fund. They raised £70,000 in just 18 months. The chairman of the fund, Paul Ellis, described Les’s sculpture as ‘superb.’

“I have been to see the clay version of the statue and I was extremely impressed,” said Paul. “The likeness is perfect - it sent a tingle down my spine when I saw it - it’s incredible. I’m delighted that Mrs Clough and Elizabeth thought it was perfect too. The approval of Brian Clough’s family has been vital every step of the way and I am sure we will have a statue that everyone can be proud of.”

The statue will stand where King Street meets Queen Street, near the Old Market Square in Nottingham. The city centre location was chosen in recognition of the unprecedented worldwide acclaim that Mr Clough brought to Nottingham. He was also made an Honorary Freeman of the city in 1993.

Nottingham City Council Leader, Councillor Jon Collins said: "The statue fund and volunteers have done a tremendous job to get to this stage. I'm really looking forward to the unveiling and hope people will come along on the day to celebrate the enormous contribution Brian Clough has made to Nottingham".

Les Johnson won the contract to make the statue after a unanimous decision by a selection panel, which included Mrs Clough. The panel also agreed unanimously on the pose of the statue - it was also the favourite of fans during a week-long consultation event at the Council House earlier this year. The bronze figure will depict Cloughie in the 1980’s wearing his famous sweatshirt.

The Statue Fund was set-up with the backing of the Clough family, the City Council (which administered the fund), Nottingham Forest and the Supporters Club.