Strap yourself in for the ride of your life

Jeepers it's been a while since had a write...

Anyhow, in classic Forest tradition we go weeks and months waiting for something to happen and then wallop! So much changes so quickly. The last 48 hours have been epic. Only time will tell how much of a turning it will be. However, after watching, reading and listening to what everyone has to say about the new owner's and their background, I'm in the "healthy optimism, welcome you to Nottingham with open arms" camp. The reports are good.

First and foremost, I think it is fair to say that our new owners are "football people". Owning a football club is not something that is new to them. They are a known quantity and from their initial press release, they clearly demonstrated an understanding about the nature of the acquisition - "It is an honour and privilege for the Al-Hasawi Family to assume control of this great Club steeped in history and with the outstanding legacy left by its previous owner Nigel Doughty". Perfect. You got it one. It is an honour and a privilege. I don't think they are going to Reds are going to be playing in a new home kit of blue because the Middle-Eastern market wants that, a la Cardiff. Their PR is excellent and God knows we need some of that. It was a nice touch with the naming of academy in lasting memory of Nigel Doughty.

As for Steve Cotterill, I feel for him because, for all the negative stuff, the reality is he kept Forest in the Championship last season (I would say against the odds) and in doing so kept Forest attractive to potential owners. That success was his downfall; had the club been relegated I doubt the new owners would be the Al-Hawasi family and Frank Clark would be backing Steve to get us promoted. I really wish him well for the future. I admired his bubbly positivity and honesty. However, I do think it was the right decision and the need to act quickly was paramount.

To date, there has been no mention of the exact amount of money in the transfer kitty, but the assumption is that they have so much to put an actual number on it might appear vulgar. It makes no sense at all to put that in the hands of someone who doesn't come on the mandate of the new owner. If Cotterill had stayed, spent a load of cash and it were to go pear-shaped by the time the leaves start dropping, he would be on his way out and his replacement would want to start over again.

Clearly, the new owners want to hit the ground running and appoint a person that "makes a statement". Of course, that was the idea last summer and we know how that ended. So new owners or not, there are no guarantees and reputations can count for nothing if you get five consectutive bad results. In wanting to make a big appointment, they are clearly determined to do everything possible to get the club promoted, which is nothing less than we would expect. Right now though, we are miles away from that, and given that we are half way through July with 15 first team players and no manager, it seems to me highly improbable that promotion could be achieved this season.

As for the names mentioned so far, it is silly season. Harry Redknapp was never going to journey north from his coastal paradise and drop to the Championship after doing so well so recently, no matter how much money might be in the "war chest". Mick McCarthy and Neil Warnock are both serious contenders for the same reasons; locally based with strong promotion track records. Alas, I'd like neither. Darren Ferguson is also a bookies favourite although not according to his chairman. Again, no thank you. I saw shorter odds on Diego Maradona than Roy Keane this afternoon - that made me laugh. Again, keep looking. Don't even mention Nigel Clough. I heard a man on the radio mention Sven Goran Eriksson's name but I don't think so - his star is definitely on the wane. Then of course, there is the enigma that is Billy Davies. I wouldn't be gutted if he returned, and it would be interesting to see how much money Billy needs to get what he wants, but in the end I think not. It's easy to dismiss the duff names, but not so easy to think of good candidates that will bring an exciting, winning brand of football. Ian Holloway and Gus Poyet fit that bill, but haven't been mentioned (well I've not heard anyway). The real challenge is to find a manager capable of getting promotion and also have the credentials to keep us in the Premier League. Those people are gold dust.

Oh well time will tell. Given the pace of things at the moment, maybe the Al-Fasawi family have a stellar managerial appointment waiting in the wings on Saturday that will blow us all away. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce the new manager of Nottingham Forest, Mr Giuseppe Guardiola!". (In y'dreams). Ha-ha-ha.