Nottingham Forest fans urge club to stay at City Ground

Nottingham Forest could relocate from the City Ground and ditch redevelopment plans

Nottingham Forest supporters are urging the club to consider every last possibility to remain at the City Ground.

The club could scrap stadium redevelopment plans and relocate due to a row over rent.

Fans have been sharing their thoughts after the club's chairman spoke to the BBC about the issue.

Nottingham City Council has been been in discussions with the club about options for the future.

Planning permission for the expansion was granted in 2022

Fan group Forza Garibaldi said their badge reflected the river and their anthem paid homage to where the City Ground was.

Forza said: "In recent years the City Ground's inadequacies have begun to show more and more - it leaks, it is cramped and, crucially, it has shown to be too small to meet demand.

"It is therefore a logical solution to explore the possibility of an alternative location, especially given the stalemate with the city council, but there will never be another home for us with the wonderful setting, the character and the soul that the City Ground possesses.

"We urge the club to consider every last possibility to remain at the City Ground, and repeat this call to members of the City Council who must equally ensure that their legacy is not the loss of 125 years of Nottinghamshire sporting heritage."

Tom Cartledge said unless there was "significant progress", the club might have to "look elsewhere"

The City Ground is sited on land leased from the city council and there is only 33 years left on the current deal.

Talks about an extension have stalled over the authority's demands the current £250,000 rent is increased to about £1m.

Eight Nottinghamshire MPs have signed a letter to Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen voicing their concerns.

The letter, shared on X, formerly Twitter, accuses the city council of risking destabilising one of Nottingham's "biggest assets" which provides "significant economic, social and community value".

The MPs have launched an online petition calling for the council "to recognise the importance of Nottingham Forest FC", its economic impact on the city and "to properly support them with their stadium plans".

Nottingham Forest club chairman Tom Cartledge told the BBC this week: "We find ourselves in a position where for the first time we're having to consider whether the future is going to be away from the City Ground."

A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council said it had been in discussions with the club about options for the future.

"We understand Forest's need for a swift resolution and their ambition for expansion which will bring benefit to the area, and will work with them on a solution which meets their aims and our statutory responsibilities," added the spokesperson.

"Any proposed new terms or agreements would need to be brought back to executive board for consideration and approval."

Businesses 'would suffer'

Supporters expressed concern about the livelihood of surrounding businesses if Forest left the City Ground.

Forest fan Ellie Molloson said the council was leaving Forest with "no options".

"As a fan the last thing I want is to see us move away from the City Ground - what we've got is so special, such a brilliant atmosphere, and I really don't want to become one of those soulless, tinpot clubs," she said.

"What it brings to the city is huge, especially now they are in the Premier League, they should be wanting to help Forest maintain their Premier League status so that businesses can grow even more."

Fellow fan Stuart Clarkson said: "Businesses within Nottingham and West Bridgford would suffer massively."