Forest Chairman must learn from double-sale saga

Article by e-Nottingham Forest Correspondent Chris Cave

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It seems that Nottingham Forest can’t go a season without some form of meltdown.

Last season culminated in disappointment – no manager, an injury list longer than an anecdote from Dave Bassett, and a run of results that saw us slip from play-off certainties to comfortable, mid-table survivors.

This season, a ball has yet to be kicked and there is controversy and apprehension surrounding the City Ground outfit.

With Karl Darlow and Jamaal Lascelles heading to the north east without the knowledge of manager Stuart Pearce; Fawaz al-Hasawi has put a huge dent in the supporters’ trust in him.

As honest and loyal as ever, Forest boss Pearce appeared on local radio to reveal that he had no idea that two of the club’s hottest prospects had been offloaded.

What’s worse, when he was informed of the offer the previous week, Pearce had advised against it.

Not to mention, at £7m, the pair were sold at a ‘cut price’.

With little over three days to go until the start of a new season, panic is prevalent in just about every social media outlet where Forest fans are concerned.

In a statement released to appease the mob of supporters that were furious to learn of the latest transfer activity on Trentside, Fawaz put the sale of Darlow and Lascelles down to FFP.

Whilst this may very well be the case, it is a poor defense for a man who, prior to this latest debacle, had an unusually high popularity rating for a football Chairman.

Pearce has been in management long enough now to realise that players often have to be sold to raise funds.

Had Fawaz explained to him that it was in the best interests of the club to sell them, I’m sure that Pearce would have understood.

Instead, despite the Kuwaiti’s claim that him and Pearce are ‘not [working] behind each other’s backs’; this deal certainly happened without the consent of the man affectionately dubbed ‘Psycho’ by the Forest faithful.

Whether or not al-Hasawi believed Pearce would be too scared to admit he was unaware of the deal or not remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Fawaz has picked the wrong man to cross.

Despite his favourable viewing from many connected with Nottingham Forest, in a popularity contest with Stuart Pearce, there is only ever going to be one winner – Psycho.

Trust levels with supporters are now arguably at an all time low for the wealthy Kuwaiti businessman, something that will be easy to fix should he learn from this latest catastrophic mistake and abide by his own mantra of working with Pearce.

He will now know that Pearce will not cover for him. Any interfering done by Fawaz will not be disguised by the manager, privately or otherwise.

This was very much not a meltdown because of the sale of two bright, young prospects – more the fact that Fawaz is proving the doubters right on their claims that he interferes too much in the manager’s affairs.

By going behind Pearce’s back, it showed a complete lack of respect and disregard for the man he has appointed to lead Forest’s charge back to the top flight.

Pearce has come out of this with even more glory than he had before, if at all possible.

He has also proven to all that he will not shy away from difficult questions when in the public light – something that previous managers may have.

Any more business done behind Pearce’s back and al-Hasawi faces a fierce backlash from the Forest fans.

With only three days remaining before the start of a new Championship season, let’s hope this latest saga at the City Ground has no knock-on effect.

A good start to the season and many will forgive and forget.

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