Stunning
Well earned after 99 minutes of torture. Every man put in a shift. Playing three CBs with Worrall, Felipe and Niakhate with Lodi & Aurier at wing backs who can get up and down is the best defensive formation for us. Certainly suits us better than a flat back 4.
We were genuinely dangerous on the break. Even if the goal was a little fortuitous. Be nice if we could get hold of the ball more next season. Itâs tiring on the lads chasing it for 90+ minutes.
God bless Stevie Copper and the fat Greek crook.
Heâs a gem, weâre lucky to have him, after that season he well deserved a break before we go again
How safe are forest now?
We cannot be relegated. Southampton, Leicester and Everton cannot catch us.
Excellent. 
Weâre going to spend a billion in the close season and win the fucking thing next year.
Delighted for you pal. I can see Forest and City carving up the next 10 titles
In Steve Cooperâs office, next to the portraits of Nottingham Forestâs legendary manager Brian Clough, there is a canvas of actor Denzel Washington with a quote underneath.
âEase is a greater threat to progress than hardship.â
It is a message that perfectly encapsulates Cooperâs season in the Premier League, which is now ending in the triumph of survival despite many uncomfortable moments along the way. There were 30 new signings, an abysmal away record, an alarming injury list, a World Cup break and scrutiny on his future but Cooper has completed the job, cementing his status as the best Forest manager since Frank Clark, or arguably even Clough himself.
Cooper wonât win the Manager of The Year award, but finishing 16th or 17th is an achievement which cannot be overestimated. To have that many new players, from different countries and different leagues, and still manage to build an identity, spirit and culture is why Cooper can reflect on an excellent season. He is first and foremost a coach, and almost all of the new arrivals have improved over the course of the season.
Take Taiwo Awoniyi: in the first few months he was raw and clearly needed work, but finishes the season transformed with five goals in three games. The heroes from last season - Brennan Johnson, Ryan Yates and Joe Worrall - have also proved they belong at this level. Cooperâs No. 1 target last summer, Morgan Gibbs-White, has been arguably the player of the season and should be in contention for the senior England squad.
While many of the clubs around them in the table, such as Leeds, Everton and Leicester, seem to have been in various levels of crisis, it has always seemed calm at Forest. There has never been any question over the playersâ commitment. They have demonstrated a reputation for responding from setbacks and performing under pressure.
The Cooper effect has also lifted the city of Nottingham
Tactically, Cooper has been astute. In Saturdayâs win over Arsenal, they devised a perfect plan to nullify the threat of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard by restricting space and doubling up on them.
The secrets of Forestâs story have been sewn at the training ground, where everybody from players to staff are aligned. Cooper is big on communication and encourages players to voice their opinions, always referring to âdaily behavioursâ. There is a sense of family and an environment where all are together, whatever their reputation.
Even those out of the squad, including injured goalkeeper Dean Henderson and defender Steve Cook [who was left out of the 25-man squad] have travelled to away games to support the players. Cooper will not tolerate anyone damaging team spirit, and he can be ruthless. There have been rare instances, but Jonjo Shelveyâs exile from matchday squads after reacting poorly to being left out of the team which faced Liverpool last month, is evidence of the consequences. While Jesse Lingardâs attitude has been good off the field, his Forest career effectively ended after an abject first-half display in the defeat at Tottenham on March 11.
Cooperâs personal touch extends outside his squad too. European Cup winners including John McGovern and Garry Birtles are regular visitors to the training ground. When boxer and Forest fan Leigh Wood lost his WBA featherweight title in February, he was invited into Cooperâs office a few days later as a sign of support.
The Cooper effect has also lifted the city of Nottingham. Earlier this year he held talks with senior constables from Nottinghamshire Police, where he was thanked for his leadership and positivity towards the city where he now lives. The 43-year-old is so popular with supporters that shopping trips into the city have to be planned with military precision. He likes to unwind by running but even his jogs are sometimes halted by passers-by asking for selfies.
Forestâs City Ground stadium has also proved hugely important in their season, and Cooper has never lost sight of that. The team has secured 30 of their 37 points in front of their own supporters and every home match feels like an event, evoking memories of those European Cup days. It feels like a magical place from a golden era, especially when the floodlights bounce back off the River Trent at night matches.
It has not always been like this. For years during Forestâs time in the doldrums there was often a fractious atmosphere. A video went viral of two supporters on the concourse arguing over who was entitled to the last pie, and it captured the mood of frustration. New signings were often written off by fans on social media before they had even kicked a ball.
Yet since Cooperâs arrival, the City Ground is now a happy place: the new version of famed city-centre nightclub Venus from the early â90s, where all are smiling and as one.
For owner Evangelos Marinakis, survival represents the next stage in his plans to progress the club. He is determined to establish Forest as a stable Premier League club, and relegation would have been a seriously retrograde step.
There remain a few issues with Financial Fair Play after their mammoth spend, but staying up is crucial for so many reasons: for example, it can be revealed that a few players, including Shelvey, Chris Wood and Felipe, did not have salary reductions in the event of relegation.
Marinakis deserves credit for this season, too. While the Greek businessman is a demanding owner who can be quick to voice his frustrations, the simple fact is that he didnât sack Cooper. The threat of disrupting the camp was too great, and his public statements in October and April provided clarity. He held his nerve when others would have faltered. Forest and West Ham are the only clubs in the bottom half of the table to stick with their managers, and both have been rewarded.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos MarinakisPhoto by: PA/Mike Egerton
So what next? The feeling is that lots more hard work is ahead. After signing so many players over the season, the focus this summer is on a clear recruitment strategy to improve. There will not be the churn of last year.
Lingard will depart as a free agent, and will sift through a number of lucrative offers from around the world. Keylor Navasâ loan from Paris Saint-Germain will end, while Forest will pursue a permanent deal for Manchester United goalkeeper Henderson. While Henderson is also keen to sign, the situation will be determined by the future of David De Gea at United. Renan Lodi, the Atletico Madrid loanee, is under consideration for a permanent move but Forest will first try to lower the option price of around ÂŁ25million.
Newly appointed chief football officer Ross Wilson will be a crucial figure. He has already appointed Tom Southwell from Southampton as head of player insights, and restructuring is expected within the scouting and recruitment departments. The academy is also regarded as a priority, and plans are in place to further upgrade the training ground.
Cooper, meanwhile, has underlined his reputation as one of the Premier Leagueâs best British coaches. Achieving survival will rank alongside the World Cup win with Englandâs under-17s and promotion in last seasonâs Championship play-off final.
He drives Forest on, and holds it all altogether. After this weekendâs final game at Crystal Palace, he will take a deserved break to recharge. It is only another 12 weeks until the madness starts all over again.
To pinch another quote, this time from Clough: "I hope anybodyâs not stupid enough to write us off.â
Anytime old pal. Delighted ye stayed up
In Steve Cooperâs office, next to the portraits of Nottingham Forestâs legendary manager Brian Clough, there is a canvas of actor Denzel Washington with a quote underneath.
âEase is a greater threat to progress than hardship.â
It is a message that perfectly encapsulates Cooperâs season in the Premier League, which is now ending in the triumph of survival despite many uncomfortable moments along the way. There were 30 new signings, an abysmal away record, an alarming injury list, a World Cup break and scrutiny on his future but Cooper has completed the job, cementing his status as the best Forest manager since Frank Clark, or arguably even Clough himself.
Cooper wonât win the Manager of The Year award, but finishing 16th or 17th is an achievement which cannot be overestimated. To have that many new players, from different countries and different leagues, and still manage to build an identity, spirit and culture is why Cooper can reflect on an excellent season. He is first and foremost a coach, and almost all of the new arrivals have improved over the course of the season.
Take Taiwo Awoniyi: in the first few months he was raw and clearly needed work, but finishes the season transformed with five goals in three games. The heroes from last season â Brennan Johnson, Ryan Yates and Joe Worrall â have also proved they belong at this level. Cooperâs No. 1 target last summer, Morgan Gibbs-White, has been arguably the player of the season and should be in contention for the senior England squad.
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While many of the clubs around them in the table, such as Leeds, Everton and Leicester, seem to have been in various levels of crisis, it has always seemed calm at Forest. There has never been any question over the playersâ commitment. They have demonstrated a reputation for responding from setbacks and performing under pressure.
Tough love for the players
Tactically, Cooper has been astute. In Saturdayâs win over Arsenal, they devised a perfect plan to nullify the threat of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard by restricting space and doubling up on them.
The secrets of Forestâs story have been sewn at the training ground, where everybody from players to staff are aligned. Cooper is big on communication and encourages players to voice their opinions, always referring to âdaily behavioursâ. There is a sense of family and an environment where all are together, whatever their reputation.
Even those out of the squad, including injured goalkeeper Dean Henderson and defender Steve Cook (who was left out of the 25-man squad) have travelled to away games to support the players. Cooper will not tolerate anyone damaging team spirit, and he can be ruthless. There have been rare instances, but Jonjo Shelveyâs exile from matchday squads after reacting poorly to being left out of the team which faced Liverpool last month, is evidence of the consequences. While Jesse Lingardâs attitude has been good off the field, his Forest career effectively ended after an abject first-half display in the defeat at Tottenham on March 11.
Cooperâs personal touch extends outside his squad too. European Cup winners including John McGovern and Garry Birtles are regular visitors to the training ground. When boxer and Forest fan Leigh Wood lost his WBA featherweight title in February, he was invited into Cooperâs office a few days later as a sign of support.
Nottingham, united
Supporters have helped turn home games Forestâs way CREDIT: AP/Rui Vieira
The Cooper effect has also lifted the city of Nottingham. Earlier this year he held talks with senior constables from Nottinghamshire Police, where he was thanked for his leadership and positivity towards the city where he now lives. The 43-year-old is so popular with supporters that shopping trips into the city have to be planned with precision. He likes to unwind by running but even his jogs are sometimes halted by passers-by asking for selfies.
Forestâs City Ground stadium has also proved hugely important in their season, and Cooper has never lost sight of that. The team have secured 30 of their 37 points in front of their own supporters and every home match feels like an event, evoking memories of those European Cup days. It feels like a magical place from a golden era, especially when the floodlights bounce back off the River Trent at night matches.
It has not always been like this. For years during Forestâs time in the doldrums there was often a fractious atmosphere. A video went viral of two supporters on the concourse arguing over who was entitled to the last pie, and it captured the mood of frustration. New signings were often written off by fans on social media before they had even kicked a ball.
Yet since Cooperâs arrival, the City Ground is a happy place: the new version of famed city-centre nightclub Venus from the early â90s, where all are smiling and as one.
For owner Evangelos Marinakis, survival represents the next stage in his plans to progress the club. He is determined to establish Forest as a stable Premier League club, and relegation would have been a seriously retrograde step.
There remain a few issues with Financial Fair Play after their mammoth spend, but staying up is crucial for so many reasons: for example, it can be revealed that a few players, including Shelvey, Chris Wood and Felipe, did not have salary reductions in the event of relegation.
Marinakis deserves credit for this season, too. While the Greek businessman is a demanding owner who can be quick to voice his frustrations, the simple fact is that he did not sack Cooper. The threat of disrupting the camp was too great, and his public statements in October and April provided clarity. He held his nerve when others would have faltered. Forest and West Ham are the only clubs in the bottom half of the table to stick with their managers, and both have been rewarded.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis (centre) celebrates in the stands during the victory over Southampton, which helped his team on their way to Premier League survival CREDIT: PA/Mike Egerton
Academy and training ground upgrades
So what next? The feeling is that lots more hard work is ahead. After signing so many players over the season, the focus this summer is on a clear recruitment strategy to improve. There will not be the churn of last year.
Lingard will depart as a free agent, and will sift through a number of lucrative offers from around the world. Keylor Navasâ loan from Paris Saint-Germain will end, while Forest will pursue a permanent deal for Manchester United goalkeeper Henderson. While Henderson is also keen to sign, the situation will be determined by the future of David De Gea at United. Renan Lodi, the Atletico Madrid loanee, is under consideration for a permanent move but Forest will first try to lower the option price of about ÂŁ25million.
Newly appointed chief football officer Ross Wilson will be a crucial figure. He has already appointed Tom Southwell from Southampton as head of player insights, and restructuring is expected within the scouting and recruitment departments. The academy is also regarded as a priority, and plans are in place to further upgrade the training ground.
Cooper, meanwhile, has underlined his reputation as one of the Premier Leagueâs best British coaches. Achieving survival will rank alongside the World Cup win with Englandâs under-17s and promotion in last seasonâs Championship play-off final.
He drives Forest on, and holds it all altogether. After this weekendâs final game at Crystal Palace, he will take a deserved break to recharge. It is only another 12 weeks until the madness starts all over again.
To pinch another quote, this time from Clough: âI hope anybodyâs not stupid enough to write us off.â
It really is some achievement. Cooper took charge with Forest adrift of the Championship and 18 months later they are the ones deciding who wins the Premier League.
Fair play to Marinakis. He kept his cool and stuck with Cooper when all around him were losing theirs. He put his money where his mouth is and Forest really have something to build on now after a whirlwind year and a half.
Dont know how well they get on but that hardly matters. They both know what it takes
This season was all about survival. Job done. If we can retain Henderson and Lodi and add another couple weâll have a team to go to war with next year
I love you bro
Jesse Lingard among players released by Nottingham Forest
By Paul Taylor
Jun 2, 2023
48
Jesse Lingardâs departure has been officially confirmed by Nottingham Forest.
The former England player is among six senior players who are to be released as free agents when their contracts expire.
AndrĂŠ Ayew, Cafu, Jack Colback, Jesse Lingard, Jordan Smith and Lyle Taylor are the others, with Serge Aurier having seen a clause in his deal activated to extend his contract into next season.
Lingard was the big name signing of last summer, amid a 22 new signings.
The former Manchester United and West Ham player has been a popular figure in the City Ground dressing room, but has struggled to make an impact on Steve Cooperâs side, making only 12 starts and five sub appearances in the Premier League.
Forestâs three loan players, Keylor Navas, Dean Henderson and Renan Lodi have returned to their parent clubs â but Forest will explore the possibility of bringing Henderson back on a permanent basis.
Six academy players will also depart: Billy Fewster, Alex Gibson-Hammond, Ryan Hammond, Nicky Hogarth, Adnan Kanuric and Lewis Salmon.
Players released:
⢠Andre Ayew
⢠Cafu
⢠Jack Colback
⢠Billy Fewster
⢠Alex Gibson-Hammond
⢠Ryan Hammond
⢠Nicky Hogarth
⢠Adnan Kanuric
⢠Jesse Lingard
⢠Lewis Salmon
⢠Jordan Smith
⢠Lyle Taylor
Welcome aboard buddy. Heres the full audit for you
Whoever devised Harry Arters contract deserves a nobel prize
Nottingham Forest squad audit: Who stays? Who goes?
By Paul Taylor and Thom Harris
Jun 2, 2023
97
When it comes to recruitment, Nottingham Forest are going to put quality ahead of quantity this summer â there will be no repeat of last summer, when 22 new players walked through the door.
Head coach Steve Cooper hopes to see just five to seven signings made in the coming weeks, to add to the core of the squad that was bolstered by a further seven additions in January.
But with 47 senior players currently on the books, work needs to be done to move players out. Some of that will happen naturally, with seven members of the squad that secured Premier League survival set to be out of contract and three whose loan spells will end â although Forest will work to re-sign at least one of the latter, Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
A further consideration when it comes to selecting next seasonâs 25-man squad is that a few of the younger guys in the first-team dressing room will no longer qualify as under-21 players, including Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams.
These are the players Forest currently have under contract ahead of the summer window.
Goalkeepers
Dean Henderson (loan expired): Forest want to bring Henderson back following this seasonâs successful loan from Manchester United â and the 26-year-old is open to it. All that remains is the not-insignificant challenge of agreeing the finances for a permanent transfer. Henderson impressed in 18 Premier League games before a January thigh injury that required season-ending surgery â he was waving his crutches in celebration when survival was secured against Arsenal and has always seemed invested in the clubâs fortunes. Rejoining Forest would offer the regular first-team football and chance to earn back an England squad place he is less likely to get back at Old Trafford.
Dean Henderson after his injury in January (Photo: Catherine Ivill via Getty Images)
Keylor Navas (loan expiring): Navas was a vital addition on loan from Paris Saint-Germain following Hendersonâs injury. Probably the biggest name to play for the club in the modern era â but he came at a significant financial cost. It was a wise short-term investment but Navas will seek European football in 2023-24.
Wayne Hennessey (contract to 2024): The Wales caps centurion remains capable at 36 but the fact Forest bust a gut to sign Navas to replace Henderson in the winter window is a sign that Hennessey is viewed only as a fall-back.
Ethan Horvath (contract to 2024): Premier League new boys Luton Town have the option to make his season-long loan permanent after he played 47 of the possible 49 games to help them win promotion via the play-offs and the USA international has also been attracting interest from other clubs around Europe. Horvath being part of the Forest squad next season is among the least likely of outcomes.
Jordan Smith (out of contract): He finished the season on loan at Huddersfield Town of the Championship and, while the 28-year-old is well-liked at Forest after coming through the academy ranks, he is out of contract at the end of next month and will be released by the club. Smith has made only 47 league appearances for the club since his February 2017 debut.
George Shelvey (contract to 2024): The 22-year-old recently signed a new one-year deal, with the option of a further year. Shelvey has trained regularly with Cooperâs first team this season and is regarded as a bright prospect. A loan move might help with his development.
Defenders
Felipe (contract to 2024): His face is now the screensaver picture on my other halfâs phone. Iâd be more upset if I hadnât considered changing mine to his photo as well. But the reason Felipe is so popular is not due to his good looks, and more because of the impact heâs made on the pitch in the past four months since joining from Atletico Madrid. The Forest hierarchy sanctioned some very good signings in the winter window, and the now 34-year-old Brazilian centre-back was among the best of them. Will be a key figure again next season.
Felipe celebrates a later-disallowed goal against Southampton (Photo: James Williamson/AMA via Getty Images)
Moussa Niakhate (contract to 2025): Made only 14 league appearances this season either side of a bad hamstring injury, but did enough to demonstrate he is useful, as a classy left-sided defender and for his looping throw-ins.
Joe Worrall (contract to 2024): Looked an uncertain figure as he took his first-ever steps in the top flight at age 25, but by the end of the season he was again the commanding presence weâve been used to seeing.
Scott McKenna (contract to 2024): The 26-year-old Scotland international had to tone down his physical approach just a little in the Premier League under the spotlight of VAR following Forestâs promotion but he acclimatised steadily. A useful squad member.
Willy Boly (contract to 2024): Like McKenna, he missed a chunk of the season due to a hamstring injury, with both players breaking down in the same incident early on away to Fulham in February. But his experience (the former Wolves centre-back has now made 100 Premier League appearances) could be important.
Giulian Biancone (contract to 2025): Played only 16 minutes of Premier League football, across two sub appearances, before suffering a season-ending ACL knee injury in training in early November. The versatile now 23-year-old, signed for ÂŁ5million from Troyes last summer, will hope to properly launch his Forest career again in August.
Loic Mbe Soh (contract to 2024): Is yet to make a significant impact after three seasons as a Forest player â but he is also still only 21. The Paris Saint-Germain academy product, who cost around ÂŁ3million when he signed from the serial French champions in the summer of 2020, played 14 games in the second tier back in France this season after being loaned to Guingamp in January. Another move in that vein could aid his development.
Steve Cook (contract to 2024): Was not included in the clubâs 25-man squad after the January window, during which he turned down the chance to go out on loan. While the 32-year-old has remained a positive influence on the training ground, Forest will look to move him on.
Jonathan Panzo (contract to 2025): Made 24 Championship starts and seven substitute appearances this season on loan at Coventry City as they plotted a course to the play-off final, only to be beaten on penalties by Luton. Cooper remains a fan of Panzo, who he coached in Englandâs Under-17s World Cup-winning side six years ago, but at 22 he would need to be included in Forestâs 25-man squad to feature next season and, amid fierce competition, that is unlikely. Likely to depart.
Neco Williams (contact to 2026): Looked more comfortable in a wing-back role than as a full-back, but it is easy to forget he only turned 22 in April and is still learning. Has obvious potential and quality â winning 28 Wales caps and playing in all three of their games at last yearâs World Cup â and will be central to Cooperâs plans.
Neco Williams challenges Luke Shaw (Photo: Michael Regan via Getty Images)
Serge Aurier (contract expiring): Forest have taken up the option to extend the 30-year-old full-backâs contract for a second season after survival was secured. The 82-cap Ivory Coast international has been a leader in the dressing room and a consistent performer â proving many people wrong in the process.
GO DEEPER
Aurier to stay at Forest after contract clause activated
Richie Laryea (contract to 2025): The Canada international returned to previous club Toronto FC on loan last summer in the build-up to the World Cup in November and December. That deal runs out at the end of this month, in the middle of the MLS season â but an extension of his stay back home is likely.
Mohamed Drager (contract expiring): Yet to make a senior appearance for Forest since signing in the pre-Cooper summer of 2021, the former Olympiacos full-back has been on loan to Switzerlandâs FC Luzern for a season and a half. They have an option to sign the 26-year-old permanently, and are expected to activate it.
Renan Lodi (loan expiring): Said his farewells after the season finale at Crystal Palace, when he handed everything but his shorts to the away fans. The 25-year-old Brazil international developed into an outstanding performer at left-back during his season on loan from Atletico Madrid. Lodi formed a strong emotional bond with Forest but found it difficult being away from his family. The club would like to bring him back, but it will be difficult.
Harry Toffolo (contract to 2026): Found himself playing second fiddle to Lodi and Forest then blocked a January loan move to Belgiumâs Anderlecht at the last minute â which proved wise, as the former Huddersfield defender became a steady back-up option.
Omar Richards (contract to 2026): Hasnât played a minute of football for the club yet after arriving from Bayern Munich last summer with a leg fracture. But Forest hope the 25-year-old former Reading full-back will fill the void likely left by Lodiâs return to Spain.
Midfielders
Danilo (contract to 2029): Another outstanding January addition, from Palmeiras in Brazil. Arsenal had also pursued the now 22-year-old, and it quickly became obvious why â after gradually finding his feet, he scored three goals and supplied two assists in 12 league starts and one sub appearance. Danilo is one of Forestâs most exciting signings in years.
Orel Mangala (contract to 2026): Another new signing who took a little time to adapt to the English game but then finished the season strongly. There were times when Mangala could not get into the matchday squad, but more recently he has been one of the first names on the team sheet. The 25-year-old has a bright future.
Orel Mangala playing against Arsenal (Photo: Clive Mason via Getty Images)
Ryan Yates (contract to 2025): Continues to prove his doubters wrong. Yates has now played in the top five divisions of English football â and proved this season he can cut it in the Premier League. His value to the side was demonstrated when he was missing through illness and then a shoulder injury. A model professional who has been rewarded for his constant quest for personal improvement, a quality the 25-year-old has possessed since coming through the Forest academy.
Cheikhou Kouyate (contract to 2024): His role has mainly been to help Forest close out games by coming off the bench to add more physical presence to their cause. His experience and knowledge â the 33-year-old is approaching 300 Premier League appearances in nine seasons with West Ham, Palace and now Forest, and has won 84 Senegal caps âwill continue to be useful.
Gustavo Scarpa (contract to 2026): One of the most interesting characters to ever have pulled on a Forest shirt. In his spare time, the Brazilian enjoys grabbing his board and heading to Nottinghamâs skate parks or reading classic literature â having learned English by watching sitcom Friends. The winter-window signing only made two starts and four substitute appearances in the league before being hit by personal problems and injury, which have limited his impact from February on. The 29-year-old possesses an outstanding passing range and a level of composure on the ball that could prove useful.
Jonjo Shelvey (contract to 2025): Has been frozen out of the matchday squad since reacting poorly to being told he would not start against former club Liverpool in late April. Although only signed from Newcastle United in January, the former England international already finds his Forest future in the balance.
Remo Freuler (contract to 2025): Only three players â Morgan Gibbs-White (34), Brennan Johnson (33) and Lodi (26) â started more league games for Forest this season than the Switzerland international (24). But while he was average more than he was poor, Freuler never quite lived up to the big reputation he arrived from Atalanta with last summer. In Italyâs Serie A, he was known as the âconductor of the orchestraâ. At Forest, he is yet to hit the right notes consistently.
Lewis OâBrien (contract to 2026): The 24-year-old is on loan at Wayne Rooney-managed MLS side DC United until July 16, after a winter-window move to Blackburn Rovers of the Championship fell through on deadline day. The dynamic midfielder signed from Huddersfield last summer was regarded as surplus to requirements when Forest let him go to the US in March and, while that was harsh, it is hard to see that view changing.
Jack Colback (contract expiring): It has already been confirmed the 33-year-old will leave when he becomes a free agent at the end of this month. Colback has been a good servant across five seasons and would have featured more if not for issues surrounding a late-season head injury sustained in training.
Jack Colback playing against his previous club Newcastle (Photo: Stu Forster via Getty Images)
Cafu (contract expiring): At the start of the season, Cooper had intended to include Cafu in the 25-man squad, as he valued his versatility and personality. That plan was scuppered by the tide of new signings. The 30-year-old will leave with the good wishes of everyone who remembers his bare-bottomed celebrations following promotion.
Harry Arter (contract to 2024): Forestâs promotion to the Premier League last year earned the Republic of Ireland international another year on his contract, even though the most recent of his 14 appearances for the club was in January 2021. The last professional game he played came on loan to Notts County, in the fifth tier of English football, in May 2022. The 33-year-old does not even train with Cooperâs first team and reaching an agreement over that final year of his deal would surely be in everyoneâs best interests.
Brandon Aguilera (contract to 2026): Forest were excited about the teenage Costa Rica internationalâs potential when they signed him from that countryâs Alajuelense last summer, but he was immediately loaned to Guanacasteca back in his homeland, and then again to Portugalâs Estoril in January, to gain experience. Another loan would be the best option as the 19-year-old looks to develop.
Braian Ojeda (contract to 2025): Signed when Chris Hughton was the manager at the start of the 2021-22 season, Ojeda struggled for game time in the Championship, making just three appearances. The Paraguay international has been on loan to Real Salt Lake in MLS since August and, at 22, would need a place in Forestâs 25-man squad to be involved next season, which is unlikely. The club must decide whether to arrange another loan for him or cut ties completely.
Attacking midfielders/wide forwards
Morgan Gibbs-White (contract to 2027): His signing last summer will cost in the region of ÂŁ30million following Forestâs survival, and that figure would rise again should he get an England call-up, but the 23-year-old is worth every penny of what they have to pay Wolves. A hugely talented player Cooper will build his team around next season. Capable of brilliance, but has the work ethic to go with it.
Brennan Johnson (contract to 2026): His pace and direct running were often Forestâs biggest source of attacking threat this season. Was relegated to the bench occasionally in its final weeks but the now 22-year-old Wales international will remain a vital, exciting player, particularly if he can continue his own rapid evolution.
Jesse Lingard (contract expiring): Well, that didnât work out, did it? The prospect of Lingard, Gibbs-White and Johnson playing as a front three was, briefly, a wonderful one. But, while he remains a popular figure with his team-mates and respected by Cooper â and was hugely invested in the Forest cause, as demonstrated by his celebrations during their survival push â as a signing, Lingard has been a failure. The 30-year-old former Manchester United and England forward will have hoped to flourish this season with Forest and earn himself a move back to one of the Premier Leagueâs bigger hitters. Where he ends up now is harder to predict. But everyone at Forest will wish him the best.
Lingard celebrates Forestâs survival, but he made only one league start in 2023 (Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Emmanuel Dennis (contract to 2026): A player who can look brilliant one minute and, well, the opposite in the next. Forest tried to move him on in January but he knuckled down and forced his way back into Cooperâs thinking. Forest would be open to any interest in Dennis but might struggle to recoup the ÂŁ10million they paid Watford for him last summer.
Alex Mighten (contract to 2025): A loan to a Sheffield Wednesday side who did not regularly operate with wingers on their way to promotion from League One this season was, in hindsight, never going to work. Forest were then frustrated when Wednesday cut short what was originally a season-long stay in January as it meant Mighten couldnât play for anyone else over the remaining months â he had already made one brief substitute appearance for Cooper in Augustâs opener against Newcastle before going to Hillsborough and you canât turn out for three clubs in any one campaign. The now 21-year-old needs to play regularly somewhere next season, whether that is with another loan or a permanent transfer.
Josh Bowler (contract to 2025): Following an outstanding 2021-22 season with fellow Championship side Blackpool, the winger took a step backwards in his development after joining Premier League-bound Forest last summer. He barely played after immediately moving on loan to their Greek sister club Olympiacos and, after returning to Blackpool on another loan in January, he failed to rediscover his best form. Having recently turned 24, next season will be pivotal in his development.
Andre Ayew (contract expiring): Cooper signed him in February on a short-term deal as a player he trusted following their two years together at Swansea City from 2019-21. The Ghana international was Swanseaâs top scorer in both seasons as they made the Championship play-offs twice. But, now 33, playing a division higher and coming off the best part of two years in the Qatari league, he has not had the same impact at Forest. They are unlikely to give up the place in their 25-man squad it would require to retain him.
Strikers
Taiwo Awoniyi (contract to 2027): His six goals in the final four league games went a long way to keeping Forest in the Premier League. It took him a while to acclimatise after a summer move from the German Bundesliga but, once he did, he proved a solid investment. It will be interesting to see how many goals the 25-year-old can get next season if he can avoid injury, having missed over two months of this one, from January to March, with a groin problem.
Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates after scoring against West Ham (Photo: Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Chris Wood (contract to 2024): His late equaliser in the February draw with champions Manchester City was one of the most memorable moments of Forestâs season. At previous clubs Leeds and Newcastle, Wood was well-liked and seen as an occasionally limited footballer nevertheless capable of making a significant contribution. A thigh injury means he has not had much chance to show that since his January arrival at the City Ground.
Sam Surridge (contract to 2024): An important figure in last seasonâs promotion push, Surridge was very unfortunate not to get more opportunities in the top flight, where his one start and 19 substitute appearances only amounted to 307 minutes of game time. He is an honest, hard-working forward and an instinctive finisher but, with one year left on his contract, a loan move next season would not make sense. A permanent transfer to a club offering regular football may beckon for someone who turns 25 this summer, so needs to be playing.
Lyle Taylor (contract expiring): The 33-year-old spent the season kicking his heels â part from one appearance for Forest Under-21s in April â after being left out of the 25-man squad. Taylor will have suitors this summer in the Championship, where heâs scored 23 goals in 93 games, as a free agent.
Hwang Ui-jo (contract to 2025): Will he ever make a senior appearance for Forest? It seems unlikely. The 30-year-old South Korea international spent the second half of the season on loan at FC Seoul in his home country after flopping on loan at Olympiacos (12 appearances, no goals, one assist). Of all the business the club did last summer, signing him from Bordeaux in France and then immediately farming him out to their sister side in Athens may have been the most curious.
Hendo and Lodi both done deals per source 
Gary Brazil, Nottingham Forestâs highly respected academy head, is leaving the club and Lee Charnley has also departed the City Ground as part of a series of changes among the backroom staff.
While Forest have taken the unexpected step of not renewing Brazilâs contract, Charnley has also been told that his services will no longer be required at boardroom level.
Charnley, one of Mike Ashleyâs closest allies from his previous role as Newcastle Unitedâs managing director, was brought in last August to give Forest some extra experience as they prepared for their return to the Premier League. He was tipped to replace Dane Murphy as chief executive after the Americanâs departure earlier this year. Instead, Forest have decided not to keep him on.
Brazilâs departure will be more controversial given his popularity with Forest fans and his importance to the club over the last ten years, producing key players such as Brennan Johnson, Joe Worrall and Ryan Yates and helping the club make tens of millions of pounds through the sales of Matty Cash, Ben Brereton Diaz, Oliver Burke, Arvin Appiah and others.
Brazil, who has had three spells as caretaker manager, wanted to stay at the City Ground and has told colleagues that he is intensely disappointed by the decision not to extend his contract.
Warren Joyce, who led Forest to the FA Youth Cup final a year ago and took charge of their under-21s last season, is also expected to leave.
Craig Mulholland will join the club but his appointment will not see him arrive as a replacement for Brazil, with his role set to be more wide-ranging. It is expected that, as well as having an influence on the running of the academy, Mulholland will have a broader remit overseeing the football development of numerous other areas of the club.
It will again see him work alongside Ross Wilson, who was appointed chief football officer in April. The duo had previously been colleagues at Rangers, where Mulholland had worked since 2003 before departing this summer.
Letâs face it, the Greeks are a bit of a shit show off the pitch.
Club âwant to go in a different directionâ. What, they donât want to continue to produce quality academy players that will help them balance the books?!!!
Really poor decision. Will come back to bite us, especially given that we now have a Tier 1 academy, which Brazil was largely responsible for attaining.