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Ian Wright comments on Nottingham Forest’s demise

Ian Wright during the Pro-Am (Reuters)
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Ian Wright laments Nottingham Forest’s fall.

General view inside the City GroundGeneral view inside the City Ground

Nottingham Forest may have avoided relegation to League One, but they should never have been at risk in the first place.

Forest required a final day victory against Ipswich Town to secure their Championship status after a poor run of results which left them at risk of the drop.

Relegation would have surprised nobody, with Forest going backwards slowly ever since Fawaz Al-Hasawi took over.

Nottingham Forest owner Fawaz Al HasawiNottingham Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi

Former footballer Ian Wright believes the ownership is they key problem at the club, lamenting their fall from grace.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s 606 on Sunday night (7/5), he commented: “Forest is another great club, just sitting there.

“They are being used like puppets where you can cut the strings at any stage.”

BT Sport's Ian Wright before the matchBT Sport’s Ian Wright before the match

In recent seasons Forest have sacked their managers on a whim, and sold key players like Michail Antonio and Oliver Burke without signing adequate replacements.

A change of ownership is on the horizon at Forest, with The Sun reporting Evangelos Marinakis is close to buying Al-Hasawi out.

Fans are right to be sceptical whether this is a change for the better, but right now something needs to be shaken up.

Marinakis has a big job on his hands if he is to re-establish Forest as a major force. Manager Mark Warburton deserves time to prove himself, and if he is not given it then it will be an early sign that the club may be in for more of the same.