Nottingham Forest: Al Hasawi rejects rift with McLeish

Nottingham Forest chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi has maintained there is no issue between him and manager Alex McLeish despite speculation of a rift.

Reports surfaced after Forest withdrew from a deal to sign Peterborough striker George Boyd, one of McLeish's transfer window targets.

"Alex and I talk every day, at least twice a day," Al Hasawi said.

"We have a very good working relationship and it troubles me greatly that people think otherwise."

Forest's late abandonment of the Boyd deal angered Peterborough chairman Darragh McAnthony and the club's director of football Barry Fry, both of whom were publicly critical.

However Al Hasawi and the club's head physiotherapist Andrew Balderston have defended the decision on the basis of the medical policy at the City Ground.

"There were six individual stages to our medical and the final part was an eye examination performed by a leading independent specialist in Nottingham," Balderston said.

"Unfortunately, within the timescales we had on transfer deadline day we were unable to access his archive medical records and the specialist was unable to give us the recommendations that we needed to sign the player for Nottingham Forest.

"We will share the full written report from the specialist and advice with George in due course and wish him well for the future."

The chairman has said the deal would have gone ahead had a conclusive assessment been reached, and is committed to strengthening the squad during the emergency loan window.

"Unfortunately there was a problem and when you are buying a player for two-and-a-half years you cannot take any risks," Al Hasawi continued.

"Alex and I had a long conversation today and we will be doing everything we can to bring the players in he wants when the emergency loan window opens if he wants to bring players in."