Pundit Simon Jordan has dismissed Nottingham Forest’s chances of building on their brilliant campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo.
For much of last term, the Reds held their own at the top end of the Premier League table and looked on course to qualify for the Champions League. A dip in form towards the end left them having to settle for finishing seventh and booking a Conference League spot, but it was still a remarkable achievement for Forest.
The challenge now is to back that up and continue on an upward curve. But Jordan has argued the Reds face an uphill battle, not least because financial rules put the brakes on owner Evangelos Marinakis ploughing funds into the club.
Asked if the 2024/25 season was a moment in time for Forest, ex-Crystal Palace owner Jordan said on talkSPORT: “Honestly, I think it's difficult for it not to be. That’s not to suggest they can't continue to evolve, but because of the way the game is constructed it makes it remarkably difficult for them because they can't compete economically.
“They can't go after the £600 million turnover clubs and have the same wage ratio and have the same spend patterns because they haven't got the resources. They've got the resources in the fella (Marinakis), but he can't introduce the money because it's not allowed because of the governance. So unless there's going to be a governance change, it's very difficult to see lightning striking twice.
“Now, I'm the person that tipped Forest to get relegated last year so it's not much that I have to add in this conversation in terms of value and the perception of Nottingham Forest fans, because they'll say, well, what do you know? But I think it's going to be very, very difficult.
“I think you'll see other sides regain their poise. I think Tottenham will regain their poise to some extent. I think Man United might regain some of their poise.
“That means there's going to be more teams competing at the top end of the division, which makes it more difficult for Nottingham Forest. But I'd like to see them do so.
“I would like them to be (a dominant force). I'd like any football club that isn't part of the orthodoxy to be a dominant force because it changes the nature of the game and it evolves and gives everybody a chance and it makes the dream look better. But unless they're going to change the governance, you tell me how that's going to happen.”
Former Reds manager Martin O’Neill was in agreement with Jordan during the discussion. The European Cup winner praised Marinakis for investing in the club but argued it will be difficult for his old team to challenge for Champions League football again.
“Where I will give (Marinakis) credit, he's put a lot of money into the football club,” O’Neill said. “He wants to have ambition, obviously for himself, ambition for the football club.
“When they got promoted, he said they were going to charge on. In fairness, last season they did that.
“He did also say they have done well with youth-team players. Well, I haven't seen that. Ryan Yates was there when I was there, so that's a couple of years ago. But the rest of the team has been bought.
“However, they've bought some really good players and they've had a really good season. I agree with Simon in the sense of is it a moment in time? Maybe they missed the boat for the Champions League this season.
“That's going to be really difficult next year. But to get back to the point, I think he (Marinakis) does deserve credit for the money he has put into the football club. If you’ve done that, that's a start. He's tried to put them up there. I also think the manager has done really well.”
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