Very interesting read

Apologies for the long post. Will have to post in parts due to the word count limit... Thought I'd share this from from 'theWolf''s post on the Vital Forest forum. These are not my words... Read more: http://www.forest.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=23079&start=151#ixzz2IJeaJgNu (Please note his earlier statement at the start of the article.)


"Ok - will just talk about stuff under the new regime - whilst keith burt and FC and to a lesser extent MA were still working at the club the stuff that I heard I couldn't post in detail as it would only have caused more problems. This is second hand and I will preface it all with the word allegedly:

Cotterill did have a meeting with the owners - he thought it went well - whilst driving home from the meeting he called people to make plans for a training the next day meanwhile MA got a phonecall from hasawis to sack Cotterill the next morning - he was sacked by MA who was embarrased and apologetic after arriving at the ground.

The new owners were very positive in person to cotterill to his face but were not prepared to be the ones to sack him to his face. A signe of things to come. Cotterill was shocked. Clark was shocked.

Cotterill had a bust up with clark as he believed clark must have known this was the plan. But clark had no idea - the hasawis had promised clark that cotterill would not be sacked after the ferguson meeting was leaked.

Re the ferguson approach - Barry fry rang clark to go apeshit that forest were trying to poach ferguson. Two of the hasawis were in the meeting alongside paladini - barry silkman had dangled a carrot to the new owners that if they appointed ferguson they would have first refusal on loaned players from man utd. When it leaked the new owners distanced themselves from paladini to save the club embarrasment. At this stage they hadn't completed the takeover but the hasawis interviews ferguson with paladini who was no doubt showing off his contacts etc to the new owners

FC had no idea of the apporach was embarrassed - apologised to fry. The next day FC also had to apologise to cotterill who once again assumed FC knew all about the approach and was hiding it from him

We all knew there were a few raised eyebrows when the triallists arrived - we thought they were a harmless distraction - mostly I believe they were

It was clear to the coaching staff that the new owners were overkeen for these players to get involved with the first team and training

The coaching staff had to handle it as best they could - sod had to make a few interviews where he couldn't complain and be careful with his words over how good they were - I believe he said something like he didn't think they were upto a full season in championship

However behind the scenes there was a big bust up with burt and one of the owners (don't know which one) where burt confronted him and said the kuwait players are disrupting any chance SOD has of forming partnerships and gelling as a team

There was a particular friendly very close to the start of the season where the hasawis wanted all the kuwaitis to play but sod refused to involve them and there was a standoff - burt took them on head on on behalf of sod and they were not involved

At this stage FC described the owners as being incredibly naïve with regards to football and like kids in a toyshop.

The triallists went home followed by one of the biggest charades and jokes at the club IMO. The hasawis looked into what was needed for work permits. They needed detailed scouting reports on any player they wished to sign.

For a period of months burt was instructed to get "glowing" scouting reports on all of the potential players from middle east. Burt himself, sod, rob kelly and others all were depatched to provide these glowing reports on all the players. Whilst there they were treated like royalty and shown an aircraft hangar full of expensive cars that allegedly are owned by one of the hasawis.

It was an in joke about the scouting reports as to how they had to flower them up to ensure the owners had what they needed. I will say that rashidi they genuinely do believe is decent prospect but at same time would not have pursued to sign as he was considered no better than what we already had etc.........