Owner’s Prem challenge to new gaffer

FAWAZ Al-Hasawi hopes Mark Warburton can lead Nottingham Forest into the Premier League after he completed a move to the City Ground.

The former Rangers boss has agreed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Championship outfit just weeks after his controversial Ibrox exit.

Forest are two points above the second tier relegation zone this term but Reds chief Al-Ha- sawi is confident he has the right man at the helm for the battle to beat the drop.

He said: “Mark did an amazing job with Brentford and Rangers. We have been aiming for him for a long time, but he was with other clubs.

“He knows what he is doing, he knows how to deal with players, he knows the Championship, he is experienced, a proven manager.

I know we will stay safe this season and then we will try to put things together so we can come on again.

“Two, three years ago Brighton were in the same positon, almost at the bottom, and then they changed the manager and they stayed safe. Now look at them – they are top of the league.

“We are trying to do the same, to get the right manager and move forward.”

Warburton has been reunited with Frank McParland at the City Ground, while former Ibrox assistant David Weir has joined as his right-hand man.

The Englishman is Forest’s sixth manager in four years but Al-Hasawi said: “I would love to see Forest in the Premier League one day. This is my dream.

“We have brought in a director of finance, we have brought in a director of football, we have a good manager now.

“Everything is in place for next season but people want it to happen in one day. We cannot make this happen in one day.”