Nottingham Forest chairman Nicholas Randall QC has hinted that there could be a delay to stand developments at the City Ground if the Reds are promoted to the Premier League.
Whilst reassuring supporters that Mr Randall and Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis remain fully committed to the plan to upgrade the Peter Taylor Stand, he admitted it would be "an act of abuse" to limit supporters attending fixtures in the top flight should the Reds be promoted, while work was being carried out.
Nottingham Forest first announced plans to improve the City Ground 's main stand back in February 2019; three years later and delays have meant Reds fans are still waiting for plans to materialise. The development plans are proving to be particularly complex with negotiations having to take place between Forest, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council.
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Providing an update on the development plans in an interview with BBC Radio Nottingham, Mr Randall QC said: "At times it feels like we are wading through treacle, but we are wading through and making progress. As I've said repeatedly, we knew when we made the decision that we wanted to stay at the City Ground.
"That was one of the easiest decisions we have ever made because it's a beautiful ground and to separate the club from the ground would be violent and criminal. We know that when we are here we have to deal with complex issues. There are three councils we have to deal with who have changes in personnel, changes in political personnel too. I think the political will is there now.
"The FA Cup run, the way we have played and the way supporters have come back has made it blindingly obvious that the stadium is not big enough for where we want to be. I think the impetus is there. The planning permission is the first stage, you then have to get all the logistics in place."
Whilst supporters have waited over three years for the developments to the Peter Taylor Stand, Randall hinted that there could be further delays in order to make sure that the maximum number of Forest fans possible could be offered the opportunity to watch Premier League football at the City Ground should the Reds be promoted.
He said: "I'm not presuming anything at all about what happens on Sunday, but if we can get into the Premier League this season or next then it would be an act of abuse to not let the fans in and have to close one of the stands down. I think the supporters have waited long enough and will want to see the fans play.
"I think it becomes a sporting decision too because history shows that when clubs do renovate stadiums and have stands closed, it impacts performance. So we would want to make sure the sporting side is looked after too and all the fans I have spoken to agree 100 per cent.
"We are all optimistic that we will get there and I am very optimistic that when I leave this club as chairman that there will be a lovely new stand in place. That is one of our strategic objectives and so we will keep calm and keep pushing. We are determined that we will get there.
"The precise dates we don't know yet, but I can assure supporters that we know it's needed. The owner wants it. Mr Marinakis has been extraordinary over the five years we have been here and he still wants that stand. I think we will ultimately be unstoppable."
