Nottingham

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest chairman Tom Cartledge has stepped down with immediate effect to focus on the running of his family businesses.

He will remain on the board and will be replaced by Nicholas Randall, who is reappointed as chairman having been in the position for six years after Evangelos Marinakis bought the club in 2017.

Cartledge said: “I have had an incredible experience over the last 15 months, working for the club I love and have supported all my life.

“Over the last year and a half we have taken significant steps in securing the club’s future at an expanded City Ground and I will now continue to advise the owners on the real estate strategy whilst spending more time working in my family business."

Randall added: “I would like to extend my thanks to Tom for his hard work and dedication over the past year and a half.

"During that time, it has been a privilege to have remained closely involved with the club as a member of the board, and I am delighted to resume the role of chairman today.

“I would like to thank Evangelos Marinakis and my fellow Board members for entrusting me with the position once again, and I look forward to the next exciting chapter in our history.”

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

For all Nottingham Forest’s progress this season — results, transfers, stability — it seems there is still an element of growing pains at play.

While Morgan Gibbs-White’s controversial dismissal against Brighton & Hove Albion robbed us of his presence against Fulham, it was feasible to put out a similar formation without too much tinkering in style or play.

Elliot Anderson has performed particularly well in midfield since his arrival from Newcastle, and can easily slot into the number 10 position. But with an unbeaten run of five games, and plenty of confidence in his selection, Nuno Espírito Santo opted for a 4-4-2 line-up.

Obviously it didn’t pay off. A rather disjointed, flat display was a disappointing way to end the run in front of the City Ground’s largest crowd in a decade. Similarly, while refereeing decisions made the headlines it is hard to argue they stopped us scoring. And while we were bound to underperform and/or lose at some point, it does prompt a few questions.

Should we be confident enough to play the same way every game? Should we be more threatening and attacking at home? And how pay much attention should we pay to the opposition?

Well, from a low-block and playing-on-the-break in a relegation-surviving season to the aim of greater possession and a more expansive gameplan in a (hopefully) Premier League established period… where does the balance lie?

Evidently, somewhere in between. Nuno masterminded the Reds’ first victory at Anfield in a generation (or two) and he’s got enough credit in the bank to be trying things. And clearly, at this early stage of the season, there are still new players and new ideas that are yet to quite settle in.

Chelsea away this Sunday might not be the time to be asking such questions, but it feels like there is still some trial and error this year as Forest continue to find their feet.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club, external