Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Legend Clark loving Forest atmosphere and stunning impact of owner Marinakis
FRANK CLARK can’t wait to take his place in the stand when Tottenham visit the City Ground – and reckons the atmosphere there now is even eclipsing the Brian Clough glory days.
Clark a legendary member of old Big ’Ead’s European Cup-winning sides, who went on to become manager and chairman, said: “The way the crowd has got behind the team has been incredible. Towards the end of last season and for the home game against West Ham a couple of weeks ago the atmosphere was amazing.
“I don’t think I’ve experienced anything like it and that includes the time we were winning two European Cups.”
While head coach Steve Cooper has rightly received plaudits for lifting Forest from the bottom of the Championship to success in the Wembley play-off final against Huddersfield, Clark believes owner Evangelos Marinakis should take a bow.
“I can’t say I know the owner very well. I don’t think many do over here in England but I judge people by their actions and not through words. I can see that his support for the manager has been terrific,” Clark added.
“He told them straight after the play-off final victory against Huddersfield there would be money – go and spend it.
“That’s what has happened. It does seem a very well planned operation. I believe they had two lists for new players, one for if they remained in the Championship and another for if they were promoted.
“It’s been carried out very efficiently. A lot of money has been spent, a lot of very good players have been brought in. Whether this proves successful we won’t know until the back end of the season. It won’t be for the want of trying.
“Of course it does create a problem for the manager because he has got to knit them together and bring some cohesion to the group, which he is capable of doing after the incredible job he did last season.”
Recruitment, says Clark, was also key to Clough rocking the football establishment. There were some bargains like Clark himself – a free transfer from Newcastle United – but some big investment, Trevor Francis becoming the country’s first £1million player. So far this
summer Marinakis, who also owns Greek giants Olympiakos, has bankrolled almost £150million of new signings.
Clark stated: “He is very proactive and bringing in Jesse Lingard for instance is down to him. He didn’t go to many games last season but he’s been seen this season and I imagine that will continue. He is obviously very busy with his business interests in Greece and also with Olympiakos. But he has also shown great support for Nottingham Forest.”
Marinakis (below), a media mogul and shipowner, wined and dined former Manchester United star Lingard and his entourage in a
picturesque
seafood restaurant close to Olympiakos’s ground. The 55-year-old, a popular philanthropist who regularly funds meals for the less well off in Athens, donates to schools and local charities, also wrote the lyrics for a hit song by Greek singing idol Natassa Theodoridou.
Clark added: ““There is a fantastic connect between the club and the supporters.
“He is a great supporter of charities and worthy causes. He has a very well-honed social conscience.
“Since he has bought the club Forest have reached out to a number of local charities. He’s really burnished the image of the club.”
Now it’s about helping Cooper steer the club in the right direction in the more demanding Premier League.
“One of our League and European Cup winning players, John Robertson, always used to say, ‘Win a game on a Saturday and everything is fine for a week’,” Clark recalled.
“Last season once we started winning under Steve there were a lot of good weeks for Forest.
“Player recruitment is the key and that was the case under Clough and Peter Taylor who brought in the right players.”