Your Nottingham Forest headlines on Saturday, May 20.
Marinakis rally cry
Owner Evangelos Marinakis says Nottingham Forest’s unity can be “a formidable force” as the Reds target Premier League survival.
Steve Cooper ’s side host Arsenal at the City Ground on Saturday in their penultimate match of the season, with a trip to Crystal Palace to come on the final day. They have their fate in their own hands, currently sitting three points above the relegation zone.
Cooper’s position has twice come under scrutiny this term when results have been going against Forest, but Marinakis has stuck with the Welshman. And the Greek has highlighted the sense of togetherness at the club, praising supporters for the difference they have already made.
Stadium update
Nottingham Forest chairman Nicholas Randall, KC, has said the club hope to "get the final sign-off on everything this summer" in regard to their City Ground redevelopment plans.
The Reds want to give their home a significant facelift and transform the stadium into a world-class venue in a multi-million-pound project. Phase one centres on knocking down and rebuilding the Peter Taylor Stand, doubling its capacity to 10,000 and taking the overall number of seats in the stadium overall to 35,000.
The scheme was first announced in 2019, and July last year saw Rushcliffe Borough Council finally give approval for the project to go ahead. But the Forest chief sounded a note of caution as he updated fans on the timeframe for the process.
'Exciting' Danilo verdict
Head coach Steve Cooper is excited by the potential of Nottingham Forest midfielder Danilo as he continues to show what he can do in the Premier League.
Cooper was keen to manage the 22-year-old carefully when he made the move from Palmeiras in January, easing him in gradually and even not giving him minutes for a spell. That patience paid off and the Brazilian has now clearly got to grips with English football, having put in some standout displays and scored in three successive games in recent weeks.
He is one of a number of talented youngsters in the Reds squad, alongside the likes of Brennan Johnson, Morgan Gibbs-White and Neco Williams. But although Danilo and his teammates still have their best years ahead of them, Cooper wants the immediate focus to be on putting in another fine performance against Arsenal on Saturday as Forest look to secure survival.
FA punishment
Nottingham Forest’s ground manager has been suspended and fined by the Football Association six months after an altercation at the City Ground.
Prior to the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Brentford in November there was a clash between staff from both sides during the warm-up. Bees boss Thomas Frank claimed his goalkeeping coach, Manu Sotelo, was injured after an argument with a member of Forest’s ground staff.
The FA charged the Reds’ ground manager, Ewan Hunter, and Sotelo in April after completing an investigation. And they have now dished out punishment for the pair.
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