Nottingham Forest's Kuwaiti takeover

[the masked man]

On another thread, G wondered why I'd been silent on this story. Well, to tell the truth, it's really sent my head spinning, and as facts are as yet thin on the ground, I barely know what to think.

However, as the club was frankly heading for the wall, with out-of-contract players not being offered new contracts and an unbalanced squad featuring about two-and-a-half defenders plus a dozen strikers, I have to see this as positive. Anyway, it looks like the al Hasawi brothers are for real, and are prepared to fund the club. I'm greatly reassured that they have experience of running a club (they own a Kuwaiti team). This isn't a repeat of the fiasco on the other side of the Trent when County's 'middle-Eastern investors' turned out to be a very English convicted fraudster.

Meanwhile, the rumour mill has simply gone out of control. In the absence of many facts about the immediate future of the club, people are making up any old rubbish. The new manager will be Redknapp! Sven! Pearce! Maradona (!?!)! And we're signing Michael Owen, plus a handful of Kuwaiti internationals. I'm taking absolutely none of this seriously, although it would be fun seeing the coke-sniffing Argentinian legend prowling the technical area at the City Ground...

The next stage of the saga unfurls tomorrow. The al Hasawis will be in Nottingham to launch a new home shirt and speak to fans. It remains to be seen if they'll unveil anything else.

I'm excited, a little worried, but hopeful too. We'll see soon enough.

[inthenextlife]

Maradona would be a disaster! Fingers crossed for you, but for every Sheik Mansour there's a Venky!

[inthenextlife]

And Hoddle is the bookie's favourite apparently

[the masked man]

I'm well aware there's no guarantee this will end well. But in their first interview the al Hasawis chose their words carefully and left a good impression. For the moment, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

[The G Experience!]

And Hoddle is the bookie's favourite apparently

Might not be such a bad appointment though. Did a good job at Swindon. They should also look at Curbishley.

[inthenextlife]

And Hoddle is the bookie's favourite apparently

Might not be such a bad appointment though. Did a good job at Swindon. They should also look at Curbishley.

Hoddle may have been out of the game too long. He was a good manager but maybe of his time. Curbs would be a good appointment.

[inthenextlife]

I'm well aware there's no guarantee this will end well. But in their first interview the al Hasawis chose their words carefully and left a good impression. For the moment, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

That's all you can do. Are you still in the Championship?

[the masked man]

Yes - we just avoided relegation in the end.

[inthenextlife]

Yes - we just avoided relegation in the end.

So 40 games or so from the Premiership then! Good luck to you, Forest are one of the few big clubs I don't have a dislike for

[Tomahawk Kid]

According to Sky Sports News this morning, the hot favourite is..




.

[inthenextlife]

According to Sky Sports News this morning, the hot favourite is..




.

Given time he'll get Forest into the Prem. Keeping them there may be another thing altogether...

[the masked man]

Well, we now know how this has panned out in the short term, and a sense of quiet satisfaction is evident on Forest forums. This is disconcerting, given that Forest fans really enjoy moaning - I'm just not used to this much optimism.

First of all, it's now clear that the Al Hasawi family are for real. Indeed, since the takeover and the appointment of Sean O'Driscoll, a strange pattern has been followed. This involves O'Driscoll scouting a transfer target, the Al Hasawis stumping up the cash, and the player joining without a fuss. This has now happened seven times, and more players are apparently on the way. Given the stormy relationships and failed transfer attempts that have normally been the key features of a Forest close-season (the nadir was Billy Davies conducting a hostile media campaign against the former owners when he was manager), this all seems too easy.

Also, in contrast to the Venkys, the new owners are handling PR very well indeed, happily chatting to fans at matches and using social media (Fawaz, in particular, has a very active Twitter account which often breaks the news of new signings before the official announcement). Communication is an area they are committed to.

Today the team played Bristol City. The team is not the finished article, given a curtailed close season and the fact the players are still getting to know each other, yet it was solid enough to work hard for a 1-0 victory. I'm sure performances will improve further as the team gels. So far, things are going suspiciously well.

[inthenextlife]

Well, we now know how this has panned out in the short term, and a sense of quiet satisfaction is evident on Forest forums. This is disconcerting, given that Forest fans really enjoy moaning - I'm just not used to this much optimism.

First of all, it's now clear that the Al Hasawi family are for real. Indeed, since the takeover and the appointment of Sean O'Driscoll, a strange pattern has been followed. This involves O'Driscoll scouting a transfer target, the Al Hasawis stumping up the cash, and the player joining without a fuss. This has now happened seven times, and more players are apparently on the way. Given the stormy relationships and failed transfer attempts that have normally been the key features of a Forest close-season (the nadir was Billy Davies conducting a hostile media campaign against the former owners when he was manager), this all seems too easy.

Also, in contrast to the Venkys, the new owners are handling PR very well indeed, happily chatting to fans at matches and using social media (Fawaz, in particular, has a very active Twitter account which often breaks the news of new signings before the official announcement). Communication is an area they are committed to.

Today the team played Bristol City. The team is not the finished article, given a curtailed close season and the fact the players are still getting to know each other, yet it was solid enough to work hard for a 1-0 victory. I'm sure performances will improve further as the team gels. So far, things are going suspiciously well.

Suspiciously well? That's always a bad sign...

[the masked man]

First signs of madness have now been spotted. Following a fine televised victory over Leeds United, and the team just one point off the play-offs, Sean O'Driscoll has been sacked. The al-Hasawis claim they want a manager 'with Premier League experience'; presumably they've already persuaded someone to step in. The rumour mill already has gone into overdrive, with Roberto di Matteo's name banded about.

We'll see. I like SO'D a lot and I feel bitterly disappointed.

[Precious Little]

First signs of madness have now been spotted. Following a fine televised victory over Leeds United, and the team just one point off the play-offs, Sean O'Driscoll has been sacked. The al-Hasawis claim they want a manager 'with Premier League experience'; presumably they've already persuaded someone to step in. The rumour mill already has gone into overdrive, with Roberto di Matteo's name banded about.

We'll see. I like SO'D a lot and I feel bitterly disappointed.

Roy Keane.

Seen this rumour on a few other forums.

He got the anti-Midas touch.

Poor Forest if it happens, as if they didn't have enough problems.

[the masked man]

Well, we looked like settling down under O'Driscoll, but this throws things into turmoil. For what it's worth, Alex McLeish is the favourite on one online bookmaker....

[Leg of lamb]

One thing I'll say about my own club's overseas paymasters is that they've left the football up to a solid, not-Premiership-proven manager who knows the Championship. And we're top, for now at least, so go figure...

That's ridiculous, Andrew. You have my sympathy.

[Diamond Dog]

For what it's worth, Alex McLeish is the favourite on one online bookmaker....

Well I guess that will save him pulling his normal stunt and taking you down to the Championship....

[the masked man]

...and it's McLeish. Ulp. Not pleased here - I remember his dismal spell at Villa.

I still feel we have a decent squad who can play a good passing game on the ground. If McLeish messes with that, no-one will be happy. I just hope he keeps the backroom staff (principally Rob Kelly and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink) intact, as both have been doing a good job, I think.

McLeish will have money available during the summer. Hopefully some of that will be used to offer Billy Sharp and Daniel Ayala permanent contracts.

[Thesiger]

One thing I'll say about my own club's overseas paymasters is that they've left the football up to a solid, not-Premiership-proven manager who knows the Championship. And we're top, for now at least, so go figure...

Come on you reds!