Signings Still On The Cards?

Nottingham Forest will have to rely on the persuasive powers of Colin Calderwood and David Pleat to avoid missing out on key signings.

That was the warning today from chief executive Mark Arthur, who admits Forest’s involvement in the play-offs could leave them trailing their rivals when it comes to their preparations for next season.

With the Reds potentially unable to confirm which division they will be playing in next season for another three weeks, it could make it difficult for the club to persuade their top targets to come to the City Ground.

But Arthur believes that the duo of Calderwood and Pleat will still be able to land the players they want.

‘It is very difficult to plan for the future,’ said Arthur.

‘Colin will have two lists of players, for whichever division we are in and there will be two different budgets, for whichever division we are in.

‘But the real problem is that there are players who are out of contract in the summer who we would like to sign.

‘We are unable to commit to them at the moment and they may not want to commit to us, if we are in a lower division.

‘We will be three weeks behind everyone else and it will be up to Colin, to the scouts, to David Pleat to try to keep certain deals on the boil.’

Arthur says that Forest’s fate in the play-offs will also have a bearing on the future of some of the club’s current players.

‘It will effect players who are at the club already. They are playing for their futures, there is no doubt about that,’ he said. ‘We do need to get back to the Championship and the carrot and the incentive is there for the players and the rest of us to try to do that.

‘It is a lot easier to operate Nottingham Forest in the Championship than it is in League One.’