Forest owner pledges to re-establish club among English elite
The owner of Nottingham Forest has used an open letter to fans to say he wants to take the club to the top of the English game again.
Evangelos Marinakis penned the missive following Forest’s impressive 1-0 away victory in the Premier League at the weekend, which leaves the club safely in mid-table early in the season.
Forest were busy in the transfer window, and Marinakis has hailed each of the new signings as “fighters and winners” who “believe in [our] vision for the future of this great club”.
The Forest owner also thanked Brennan Johnson, who left the club for Spurs on transfer deadline day. Marinakis said: “Brennan epitomises all that is great about football. A young boy playing for his local team, fulfilling his dreams and growing not just as a footballer, but as a human being.”
But is is the future that Marinakis focuses on most in the open letter.
He says: “Our vision for the club is clear and unwavering: we are on a path to reestablish Nottingham Forest as a dominant force in English football. This journey is not just about the short-term; it’s about building a sustainable future. We are investing in youth development, nurturing young talent, and building a squad that can compete at the highest level for years to come. We are also investing in Forest Women, fully integrating them into the club so they can benefit from improved facilities and support and take advantage of our high-performance culture. We are as proud of their achievements last season as we are of our men’s team. Again, this is what it means to be family.
“Beyond the pitch, we have worked hard to drive the club forward too. We have invested in new pitches, rebuilt the dressing rooms at The City Ground and training ground, and improved our strength, conditioning and physiotherapy facilities. A new restaurant and lounge is being built for our players to enhance their experience with us.
“We have also revamped our corporate hospitality spaces and executive suites, redesigned our boardroom, and built an impressive new Media Suite to serve the growing number of journalists covering Nottingham Forest. Our Club shop at The City Ground has undergone a full renovation and redesign, and we have opened a new store in the heart of the city to bring Nottingham Forest into the centre of our community. This all represents a huge investment to upgrade our facilities at all of our venues.”
Marinakis said the arrival of Tom Cartledge as Forest’s new chairman will “reignite” stalled plans to redevelop The City Ground.
He added: “We are committed to retaining the soul of the stadium and its place in our history, whilst expanding it to create a modern venue commensurate with our bold ambitions. First and foremost, that means one capable of accommodating a greater number of supporters so that more fans can attend our games and the next generation of the Forest faithful can feel truly part of the future we are creating here.
“I would like to extend our thanks to Nicholas Randall for his service as Chairman prior to Tom’s arrival. Nick stays with us on the Board and will continue his support of the Club in a different but very valuable role.
“I urge you to embrace the family spirit we are developing as we embark on a new season. Let us rally behind our players, let us continue to create an atmosphere at The City Ground that intimidates our opponents, and let us be the driving force that propels Nottingham Forest to new heights.”
