It’s possible that Nottingham Forest has just made another controversial internal decision, one that could end up costing the team.
Charges related to sustainability and profitability have been brought against the Reds; this week, Forest may learn of their punishment.
Forest has now revealed their intentions after Premier League teams were invited to vote once more, this time regarding a deal with the EFL.
Nottingham Forest votes down a proposed new EFL deal.
The Daily Mail, which has revealed the ten clubs who have rejected the revised EFL deal, is the source of this information.
The fact that Forest is one of the teams unwilling to accept the terms of this new settlement undoubtedly won’t come as a surprise.
Moreover, it is asserted that in the event that a government regulator requires the ten parties to pay, they may take legal action.
But with this one, Forest might be about to shoot themselves in the foot.
We think it’s fairly terrible how much money is made in football in the EFL compared to the Premier League; something needs to give.
It has been reported that insiders think it unfit for purpose for a company to be obliged to pay a competitor in the same industry, with the competitor using the money to try and win a spot in the Premier League.
That makes some sense, but everyone understands that football isn’t like other businesses.
The figures put up would give EFL teams an additional £836 million over a five-year period, on top of the £110 million in development funding and solidarity payments already in place.
If a deal cannot be made, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has already threatened to intervene on behalf of the government.
Forest might come to regret this choice.
On the one hand, it’s fortunate that Richard Masters, the Premier League’s chief, hasn’t gotten Forest to agree to anything.
The person who referred to Forest and Everton as “small clubs” is surely not deserving of Evangelos Marinakis’ wrath.
Having said that, Forest needs to use caution because this one seems a little contentious.
The fact that Forest might not be in the Premier League beyond this season is where their issues lay.
With the exception of Crystal Palace, the other nine clubs are all but guaranteed to compete in the Premier League again.
The club may wish they had been a little more receptive to this concept now that Forest may soon be back in the EFL.
In a perfect world, Forest would bounce back quickly from any setbacks, as Leicester and Leeds have this season.
There is no assurance of this, though, because the last time the Reds left the Premier League, it took them 23 years to return.
The cost of this choice will only become apparent over time, and perhaps Forest won’t suffer a catastrophic setback as a result.
