Nottingham Forest survived relegation to League One by the skin of their teeth.
Dean Ashton in action for England
Former England striker Dean Ashton believes a difficult summer lies in wait for Mark Warburton at Nottingham Forest.
Warburton was only hired as Forest boss in the middle of March, tasked with keeping them in the Championship.
It was a feat he achieved on the season’s final day, with the Reds’ 3-0 win over Ipswich Town enough to secure a 21st-place finish on goal difference.
Nottingham Forest striker Britt Assombalonga celebrates
If getting this campaign out of the way was relief enough, Forest fans have the expected departure of Fawaz Al-Hasawi, the club’s unpopular owner, to look forward to this summer.
But even with a new man in place, Ashton fears Forest’s fortunes are not going to improve overnight.
Discussing Forest’s transfer window prospects on Talksport this morning [Monday], the 33-year-old said: “I look at it from a player’s point of view, in that you’ve got these great clubs… but young players don’t think of Nottingham Forest as this amazing club; Blackburn, Birmingham [too].
“Them and their agents look at these clubs and think: we need to avoid these places where there’s a chance of getting relegated; the finances are that poor. You’re not going to be attracting any sort of a player to these… which is why it’s going to be tough [for Warburton].”
Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton
Warburton has gone on record saying he is looking to bring around four new players of quality to the City Ground in what will be his first transfer window as Forest boss.
A number of last summer’s recruits either have already left or are expected to do so shortly.
Where can Warburton take Nottingham Forest next season?
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