Councillors vote on plans to sell City Ground to Forest

A deal that would see Nottingham Forest remain at the City Ground has moved a step closer after councillors approved plans to sell the stadium’s freehold to the Reds.

Forest were currently locked in a battle with Nottingham City Council, the owner of the land on which the City Ground stands, over a new 250-year lease. The council wanted a rent in the region of £250 million for the lease. Forest were not prepared to pay this.

The decision by executive directors on Tuesday (July 16) will, Forest fans hope, secure the club’s future at the City Ground on a new 250-year lease.

Last week, Nottingham City Council leader Councillor Neghat Khan said: “I promised decisive action to secure the future of the world-famous City Ground, which has been the home of Nottingham Forest for over 125 years, and we have delivered.

“Football is staying at home here in Nottingham and the fog will continue to roll in from the Trent for years to come.”

Councillor Khan added: “If agreed, subject to legal contracts and due diligence, this will be a historic day for the club, the fans and our city.

“This will enable the club to move forward with its ambitious plans to expand the stadium, whilst also ensuring a significant capital receipt for the board. The board and the club have agreed that provisions will be put into the sale agreement which will protect the board’s position in the highly unlikely event that the club decides to move from the City Ground in the future.”

However, at around 8.15pm on the same day, Forest issued their own statement, saying: “Following today’s comments from the Leader of the City Council, the Club wishes to clarify the situation for supporters and interested parties regarding the freehold ownership of The City Ground.

“For absolute clarity, we continue to work on the terms of a conditional agreement for the purchase of the freehold. Any decision to purchase the freehold will be entirely conditional on the prior granting of the relevant permissions to Nottingham Forest that will enable us to realise our extremely ambitious plans for a significantly increased stadium capacity, world-class hospitality facilities and substantial associated property development in close proximity to the ground.

“Our discussions remain confidential and the Club will update fans when significant progress has been made.”