Mercer was dismissed halfway through the 10–11 season with Ojelabi returning as manager but this was not enough as the side finished 21st out of 22 teams but they were reprieved from relegation due to the demise of their rivals Leyton FC. The following season saw Ojelabi joined by Marvin Samuels as assistant manager but the partnership was brief before Matt Waldron returned for third spell as player coach, the season saw a marginal improvement in league position with Forest finishing in 17th place despite holding a top two position in the first few months of the season. Season 2012–13 has seen Ojelabi joined by former Ilford manager Colin Walton and a promising league start was allied with impressive runs in both FA Cup and Trophy including a stunning 5-2 win away to Southern Premier Hemel Hempsted in the former competition. Inconsistent performances from December onward, however, resulted in an 18th-place finish. In July 2013, Waltham Forest F.C. announced that the club would be returning to the borough after a five-year exile in Ilford, Essex, securing a lease at their former ground at the Wadham Lodge Sports Ground on Kitchener Road, Walthamstow. While there was good news off the pitch, the 2013–14 season did not go to plan for Forest. Footballing differences saw Wale Ojelabi step down before the start of the season, while Colin Walton soon followed. Turgut Esendagli took over the running of the first team, but time finally caught up on Forest, as a poor season got them relegated to the Essex Senior League.