Owner Evangelos Marinakis would be able to take Nottingham Forest “to another level” with promotion to the Premier League.
That’s the view of chief executive Dane Murphy as the Reds prepare to go toe-to-toe with Huddersfield Town at Wembley in the play-offs final. If Steve Cooper’s side can secure victory, it would see the club back in the top-flight for the first time since 1999.
That has been Marinakis’ ambition since he took over in 2017. And Murphy says the Greek’s experience of also being at the helm of Olympiacos would be invaluable should they topple the Terriers.
Read more: Cooper makes Nottingham Forest promotion pledge ahead of play-offs final
Read more: Riverside views and St Andrew's sadness mark out best and worst Forest away days
Yates' quip
Midfielder Ryan Yates quipped that he feared for his injured shoulder as he celebrated Nottingham Forest’s penalty shootout victory over Sheffield United.
A clip has been doing the rounds on social media of Yates mistiming his leap and missing the pile-on on goalkeeper Brice Samba at the end of Tuesday night’s drama. It might not have done any good to the shoulder he took a whack to in the defeat at Bournemouth earlier this month. But there’s unlikely to be much danger of Yates missing the play-offs final.
“You try to declare him unfit,” boss Steve Cooper had joked, prior to the semi-final second leg against the Blades. And it will be no different come Wembley a week on Sunday.
“I went to celebrate and fell on my shoulder! So I had to get in ASAP,” Yates grinned of the City Ground celebrations.
Contract clause
Nottingham Forest would reportedly have to pay a cash sum to Aberdeen should they secure promotion to the Premier League.
The Reds booked their place at Wembley with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Sheffield United on Tuesday night. And now they are 90 minutes away from ending their 23-year top-flight exile, with Huddersfield Town standing in their way.
Should Steve Cooper’s side prevail a week on Sunday, AberdeenLive claim Forest would have to pay Aberdeen around £1m, as part of the deal which took Scott McKenna to the City Ground. The 25-year-old left the Scottish club in September 2020, penning a four-year deal.
McKenna has proved to be a terrific addition since then. And he has been key to the Reds’ ascent up the table this season.
Transfer talk
Midfielder James Garner could return to Nottingham Forest next season, it has been claimed.
What happens at Wembley next week will have a significant impact on the Reds’ summer transfer business, both in terms of potential incomings and outgoings. And that includes what might happen to loanees such as Garner.
The Manchester United youngster has been at the heart of Forest’s promotion push during his second spell at the City Ground. He has gone from strength to strength under the guidance of head coach Steve Cooper, putting in a string of accomplished performances.
It has been suggested he will be given a chance to stake his claim for a place in United’s first-team squad in the summer. But the Manchester Evening News say a decision will only be made when new boss Erik ten Hag officially takes up post at Old Trafford.
