Former Nottingham Forest attacker Zach Clough has been reflecting on his time at the City Ground and how it didn’t pan out as hoped.
The 26-year-old was given a free transfer by Carlisle United on deadline day last month in order to head to Australia.
He has since signed for UTE A-League side Adelaide United for the rest of their 2021/22 season, admitting he was “ready for a change”.
Clough joined the Reds in January 2017 from Bolton Wanderers amid plenty of expectation, but struggled to make an impact in the Garibaldi.
He made just 31 appearances and scored four goals in a four-year spell which also included a series of loan moves, eventually leaving for Wigan Athletic little more than 12 months ago.
“I feel like when I was a lot younger, I was flying of course – got a big move to Forest, started off really well there,” Clough told Adelaide’s official website.
“But it was kind of like a lot of changes in managers, coming and going, and the ownership changed and I feel like they probably didn’t want me at the club and I still had three years left on my contract.
“So it’s one of those things in football where a lot of players come and go, and if you’re not wanted you’re just not wanted from the get-go really.
“It was nothing to do with football, it was probably more finances.”
Clough penned a short-term deal with Wigan when he made the move from Forest, then joined Carlisle last summer.
His time there was disrupted by injury and he featured 23 times, scoring three goals, leaving him eager for a fresh start.
“It happened very, very quickly to be fair,” he said of heading Down Under.
“My agent got in touch with the club, I was obviously contracted to Carlisle.
“I was probably ready for a change and I’ve got a lot of friends out here who’ve played in the A-League.
“They’ve always said to me that I should come and give it a go and I felt like it was the right time, once the interest came to come and make the jump.
“I’m hoping I can bring that (creative) side to the team.
“I like to dribble with the ball, shoot, take set-pieces, and hopefully score goals and get some assists.
“Straight away I could see the camaraderie in the group was very high.
“They all get on really well, and there’s a very good spirit around the place.
“Probably the best I’ve seen in my first two days at any team I’ve ever been at, the lads just look like they get on really well and I think that will help us on the pitch definitely.”
