Greeks ready to buy Forest regardless of relegation
Evangelos Marinakis will complete his takeover of Nottingham Forest whatever the outcome of the Championship’s deciding round of fixtures.
Marinakis, the controversial Olympiakos owner, is replacing Fawaz AlHasawi as chairman and the deal will go ahead even if Forest drop into League One today.
The Greek shipping magnate has agreed a deal with partner Socrates Kominakis to end Al-Hasawi’s turbulent five-year reign and the Football League is satisfied that he will pass the Owners And Directors Test.
Marinakis was facing charges of match-fixing in Greece last year but they have been dropped and sources insist he will be cleared to take over the two-time European Cup winners, with a deal announcement possible this month.
Mark Warburton, Forest’s manager, has held talks with Marinakis over plans for the future and director of football Frank McParland is expected to have his contract extended.
Marinakis has already appointed Samantha Gordon as chief financial officer and there are plans to bring in the club’s first chief executive in two years.
Warburton, whose team host Ipswich needing to better Blackburn’s result at Brentford to stay up, said: “The history and tradition of this club won’t change and we can thrive from here. I hope very much we can get the job done on Sunday and take the club forward. I do feel for the players. There has been a negative impact from the different managers, tweaks in formation and changes in the squad. Uncertainty can have a damaging effect.”
Birmingham are also facing an excruciating final day, away at Bristol City, but manager Harry Redknapp has given the clearest indication yet that he wants to stay on.
Redknapp agreed a three-game deal after replacing Gianfranco Zola last month but is ready to prolong his career at the age of 70. He could move ‘upstairs’ with assistant Steve Cotterill promoted to manager. He said: “If they ask me and it’s interesting, then great. I want to be playing a useful part.”
Birmingham will stay up if they win, whatever happens with Blackburn and Forest. But if Blackburn and Forest win, anything less than three points would see them relegated.
Blackburn will stay up if they better Forest’s result. If they match Forest’s result, they would need a two-goal swing to finish above them. If Blackburn and Forest both draw, Blackburn will go down.