Pundit Simon Jordan has called for a change in the rules to allow Evangelos Marinakis to invest more money in Nottingham Forest.
The Reds spent much of last season holding their own at the top end of the Premier League table. For so long, it looked as though they were on course to upset the established order and clinch a Champions League spot.
A late dip in form meant Nuno Espirito Santo’s side had to settle for finishing seventh and qualifying for the Conference League. But for Forest to continue mixing with the big boys, Jordan has argued the financial regulations need to be changed.
Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) restrict what owner Marinakis is allowed to plough into the club. Despite the Greek businessman’s riches, he is curbed from splashing the cash to the extent he perhaps would like.
The Reds know the consequences of falling foul of PSR having been docked four points during the 2023/24 season for doing so. Walking the financial tightrope can make it more difficult for clubs such as Forest to challenge the ‘Big Six’, according to Jordan.
Asked how he would like the rules to look, he said on talkSPORT: "It looks like allowing people to build football clubs in a way which is commensurate with their ownership model, and allows investment. I've always maintained the idea that new ownership models are the ones who should be allowed to invest first.
"Don’t allow the Wild West to go forever. But if I buy your football club and I don't like what you’ve got - it's an ugly reflection that doesn’t look like I want to look in the mirror - so I want to invest in that football club.
“But I can't now because I have got the sins of the father who I bought the football club from, as the pseudo-son that I'm not. I want to be able to go, I want four years of being able to invest in the club so I can chase Liverpool.
"I want to come into the Premier League and go: 'I'm Nottingham Forest, I've got some Greek shipping magnate - like him or not like him - who has more money than most people can imagine in their lives, who wants to build Nottingham Forest.’ But he can't, because if he does he's going to get sanctioned and booted back from whence he came.”
Asked if he would let Marinakis spend what he wants on Forest, Jordan replied: “For a period of time. For a period of time.”
Get breaking Forest news sent direct to your phone
Join our Nottingham Forest WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just click here and select ‘Join Community’ to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from the NottinghamshireLive Reds writers.
We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Reds stories. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click 'Exit Group'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you are curious, you can click here to read our Privacy Notice.
He added: "Here’s the flip side of this argument, when I was in football I saw the net effect of it (PSR) - and the net effect of what it's doing now is worse. My view was that it would suppress transfer fees and wages - it didn't. The actual benefit of what it was supposed to do never worked.
"What is worse, shutting the door and making sure that only Liverpool, only Man City, only Chelsea, only Arsenal, only those clubs can win anything? Is that what we want for sport? That is what we are going to get if we don't reverse this ridiculousness."
Jordan’s argument came as he defended Aston Villa’s decision to sell 90 percent of their Women's team to themselves via V Sports - with the other 10 percent being sold to an American investor - in order to help the club comply with PSR, because the very rules aren't serving their primary purpose.
Villa are set to follow Chelsea's lead in selling a part of the club back to themselves in order to ensure they aren't in breach of the much-debated financial rules. Jordan sees no issue at all with the way Villa intend to adhere to the rules.
"It's not cheating, is it, to sell something to yourself, if it's a fair valuation, or to another part of your business," he said. “It's an unfortunate by-product of the ridiculousness of PSR. When Stefan Borson (form Manchester City financial adviser) was last in here he made the point very well, that this makes a mockery - and drives a coach and horses - through the argument that PSR has any validity and teeth.”
What do you think of PSR? Click HERE to have your say