Confusion reigns as Forest claim deal not done on City Ground future

A deal that would see Nottingham Forest stay at the City Ground – ending months of uncertainty over the future of the club – might not be done, despite the leader of Nottingham City Council saying it had been agreed.

On Monday evening, a statement from Forest said the deal was “entirely conditional” on the club being able to move forward with its plans to redevelop and extend the City Ground.

This seemed in contradiction to a statement made earlier on Monday from the leader of Nottingham City Council, councillor Neghat Khan, who said that the council has agreed to sell the land the stadium sits on to Forest.

A deal has been verbally agreed between the council and the club, but not officially signed, she said.

A statement from councillor Khan said: “I promised decisive action to secure the future of the world-famous City Ground, which has been home to Nottingham Forest for over 125 years, and that is what we have delivered.

“Football is staying home, here in Nottingham, and the mist will keep rolling in off the Trent for years to come.”

The deal will be presented to the council’s Executive Board for a decision on July 16.

Councillor Khan said: “If agreed, subject to legal contracts and due diligence, this will be a historic day for the club, for the fans and our city.

“It will allow the club to move forward with its ambitious plans to expand the stadium while also securing a significant capital receipt for the council. The council and the club have agreed that measures will be put into the sale contract which will protect the council’s position in the highly unlikely event that the club should choose to relocate from the City Ground in the future.”

However, at around 8.15pm on Monday, Forest issued their own statement, saying: “After today’s comments from the leader of the City Council, the Club wishes to clarify the situation for supporters and stakeholders regarding the freehold for The City Ground.

“For absolute clarity, we continue to work on the terms for a conditional deal for the purchase of the freehold. Any decision to purchase the freehold will be entirely conditional on Nottingham Forest first being granted the relevant permissions that will allow us to realise our hugely ambitious plans for a significantly larger stadium capacity, world-class hospitality spaces and associated substantial real estate development in the vicinity of the ground.

“Our discussions remain confidential and the Club will update fans when meaningful progress has been achieved.”

This was followed even later on Monday evening with councillor Khan posting on X saying:

Forest had been currently locked in a battle with Nottingham City Council, the owner of the land the City Ground sits up, over a new 250-year lease. The council wanted rent in the region of £250m for the lease. Forest weren’t prepared to pay that.

The news will come as a relief for Forest fans. In May, the owner of Nottingham Forest admitted for the first time that the club’s future could be away from its historic City Ground home.

Evangelos Marianakis used an interview with the Daily Mail to outline his vision for a 50,000-seater all-purpose stadium with training facilities and an Academy function on-site.

Marinakis said he was planning a fans’ consultation on the plans.

He said: “It will change the history in years to come of the region and the team for our supporters.

“It’ll be hard to leave City Ground, but in an age when revenue streams dictate success on the pitch, there’s no doubt moving to a bigger facility will set the club on the right path.”

“Over the last 10 years, the city of Nottingham has lacked the confidence and ambition of the other big regional cities of Manchester and Birmingham.”