Head coach Steve Cooper has defended Nottingham Forest’s decision to fly to Blackpool for Saturday’s FA Cup tie.
The Reds have been criticised by some for opting to make the journey by air, with the flight lasting about half an hour and the squad then being picked up at the airport by the team bus which had travelled ahead. It comes after the club announced an extension of their partnership with E.ON in November, with the aim to "raise awareness of the climate crisis".
Cooper's side were knocked out of the competition in a dismal 4-1 defeat at Bloomfield Road. But the Forest boss says they are not alone in the Premier League to travel to games by plane, having also done the same for last week's match at Southampton.
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“First and foremost, we trust the operations logistics team to do what’s right for the squad and for the players," he said. "I don’t think we’re an outlier; it's pretty normal, whether that’s right or wrong.
“It’s pretty normal, for a team in the Premier League particularly, and for a lot of Championship teams to fly distances like that. It’s probably not just a question for Nottingham Forest, it’s probably a question for the whole of the Premier League.
“If there’s been some talk around it, I’m not too sure; I don’t want to bring any other Premier League club into it. But we’re no outliers. In fact, because of where we’re situated in the country, we probably fly less than most."
Asked whether it is an issue football in general should look at, Cooper added: “I can’t make comment on that because I don’t know the ins and outs of what every club and football does. I do know that it’s pretty normal at elite Premier League level, and we are trying to catch-up and behave, as much as we can, like a Premier League club.
“There has been a lot of transition since we got promoted, and some of it has been a real push to try to operate like a Premier League club. But it’s all exciting and we’re all trying our best. Everything is done with the best, and the right, intentions for success, that’s for sure.
“We’re a thoughtful club and a family club, and will always try to do what’s right for the greater good. But that’s also giving the team the best chance to play well in games.
“It doesn’t mean you will always play well, like at the weekend, but if there was one way of guaranteeing something then we would all be doing it. The way we operate is pretty normal, we’re no outlier, that’s for sure."
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