Previous Reds defender Michael Dawson claims that Evangelos Marinakis “did not expect” Nottingham Forest to be in a relegation struggle this season.
In 2022–2023 Forest qualified for the Premier League with one game remaining. After earning promotion in the playoffs in May 2022, it was their first season in the top division of English football in 23 years.
But even after spending a lot of money again in the summer, the Reds are fighting for relegation this season.
With nine league games remaining, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team is currently only three points above the bottom three. The club is also facing an FFP charge, the result of which is anticipated to be heard on Monday and may result in a points deduction.
And while the Reds fight to avoid dropping out of the league, Dawson has stated that the Forest owner was hoping for much more from the team in 2023–2024. The former center back has advised the team, nevertheless, that their first few seasons should be spent concentrating on Premier League survival.
“The owner didn’t see them being in this position. One, with a points deduction hanging over them, but I certainly know he wasn’t expecting a relegation battle with the money they’ve spent,” he told Sky Sports.
“But it just shows how hard the Premier League is. I always said when they got promoted, try and stay in there for a few years and try to establish yourself. Don’t think you’re a top 10 side for a long, long time.”
Over the next few months, forests will enter a critical phase in their struggle for survival. Nuno’s team’s next two games are at home against Crystal Palace and Fulham, then on April 20 at Goodison Park, they play Everton in a crucial relegation match.