Commissioners could help with talks on future of City Ground
FOREST FACE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING TO RELOCATE IF ISSUE WITH LEASE IS NOT RESOLVED WITH COUNCIL
THE lead commissioner sent in to Nottingham City Council says his team could get involved in negotiations with Nottingham Forest after reports that the club may have to leave the City Ground.
It was recently confirmed that talks on extending the club’s lease have stalled as the city council, owner of the land which the historic stadium is on, tries to ensure “best value for taxpayers”.
The stalled talks have created uncertainty around Forest’s City Ground redevelopment and the club could even end up leaving the stadium, despite supporters describing the move as “unthinkable”.
The council’s lead commissioner now says he and his other two commissioners could step in if needed.
Tony Mcardle said: “We haven’t got involved in the detail of that one yet. It’s a negotiation between two parties who are taking different views. That’s very familiar in local government everywhere. I don’t know where that one ends up.
“It’s something we will get more involved in because we want to understand it better. We’re very conscious about what the perceived risk is on both sides.”
The city council says talks with Forest about its future at the stadium have included options such as retaining the current lease, negotiating a new one or selling the freehold on a pertheir
manent basis. A 2019 deal did not progress as the council claimed it did not meet its duty to achieve best value for taxpayers, with the authority having now employed specialist agents to advise on the matter. Having been appointed for two years on February 22, Mr Mcardle says he does not intend to use the full powers that commissioners have for now. Those powers range from the hiring and firing of council officers to suggesting amendments to the council’s budget.
Instead, he says he and his team will only step in when the council thinks it would be helpful.
On the Nottingham Forest situation, the commissioner added: “It seems to me the authority is engaging. It’s doing so in a very sensible, constructive way with the taxpayers’ interest at heart. The club has put forward an alternative proposition, and there is a negotiation taking place. If we could help with that, we’d be happy to do so.
“I’m very live to the pressures on both sides, but we’re not involved in that issue at this moment in time. If we feel we have to be, or if someone else feels we need to be, I’m sure they’ll let us know.”
A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council previously said: “The council remains committed to further negotiations to find the best way forward and has offered to continue dialogue. We understand Forest’s need for a swift resolution and ambition for expansion which will bring benefit to the area, and will work with them on a solution which meets their aiwms and our statutory responsibilities.”
A central part of Forest’s vision is to knock down and rebuild the Peter Taylor Stand with double the number of seats.
Approval was given by Rushcliffe Borough Council in the summer of 2022, but it came with certain conditions needing to be met such as the demolition and relocation of boathouses by the River Trent.
Since then, plans have been put forward for new hospitality pods to fill two corners of the ground, which, if approved, would increase the capacity of the stadium in the short term.
Meanwhile, the club faces a nervous wait to hear its punishment for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. Forest faced a three-person independent commission on March 7 and 8 as the club began its defence against the charge.
The Reds, under head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, are in a precarious position in the Premier League relegation battle. Forest sit in 17th place and just three points above Luton Town who occupy the final relegation spot. Luton had a game in hand when they met Bournemouth last night, before a huge six-pointer against Forest at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.
We want to understand it better. We’re very conscious about what the perceived risk is on both sides
Tony Mcardle