Delight for Forest fans over City Ground land sale plans

The City Ground sits on land that is leased to the club by Nottingham City Council

Nottingham Forest fans said they were delighted after plans to sell the land to help keep the club at its historic home ground were announced.

Nottingham City Council agreed to sell the land on which the City Ground is based to the club, which includes conditions to ensure the club stays at the stadium “for a long time to come”.

The ground, situated on the banks of the River Trent, is on land owned by the council and is leased to the club on a long-term agreement.

The club said any decisions to purchase the freehold would be "entirely conditional" on it being granted relevant permissions to upgrade the stadium.

Josh Lowe described the City Ground as "the heart and soul of the club"

Supporters said the stadium was a vital part of the club.

Josh Lowe, from Clifton, said he did not share the concerns of other fans that Forest could have been forced to uproot.

“I’m pleased, but I didn’t think we were ever going to move anyway to be honest, because why would you?" the 24-year-old said.

"I mean it’s the City Ground, isn’t it?

"If you did move, you’re moving the heart and soul of the club.

“What were we going to do - go to Toton? It would make no sense.

"It would be a struggle for fans to get to it, so what’s the point?"

Kye Childley said he would not have attended games at Toton

Kyle Childley, 19, from Nottingham, is also relieved by the news the club is set to stay put.

"I wouldn’t have gone to any games if they’d been out at Toton," he said.

“It’s great for the football fans and we love the ground.

"The club will be able to do their own thing now, so I bet there will be lots of changes now."

Andrew Stratford said a mooted move to Toton would have taken Forest too close to their arch rivals Derby County

Andrew Stratford, 72, from Keyworth, has been a Forest fan for 65 years.

He said: “I’m delighted.

"It’s an iconic stadium and it’s full of atmosphere, and it’s the right thing.

"I know there was talk of moving to Toton, but that’s a bit too near Derby for my liking.

"If they can redevelop the Peter Taylor Stand and make the ground bigger so more fans can go to games and get tickets, that would be great - a lot of us fans struggle to get tickets.

"The stadium is very important for the club. There’s been a lot of history made down there, and long may it continue.”

Andy Caddell, of the Nottingham Forest Supporters Trust, said there would be consultation with the club on the plans

Speaking outside the City Ground, Andy Cadell, chair of the Nottingham Forest Supporters Trust, told the BBC: "It's a proposal and it looks really positive.

"It's a major positive advance but until it [the deal] actually happens I suppose everybody could be concerned about it actually happening.

"I represent the trust on the fan advisory board (FAB) and so the FAB will consult with the club, and the club are going to be really, really positive.

"The engagement with the FAB has been really good recently and it is improving, so I think all fans will get the chance to input into what will be a great matchday experience here."

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