Will Forest Have To Sell in January?

The dour financial news that was reported by Frank Clark and with the news Nigel Doughty is no longer bank rolling the club to the degree he has had begs the question whether or not in January we may be forced to sell in order to finance any new deals.

For instance, Lewis McGugan would be a prime contender. Would it be worth selling one man to finance a move for 3-4 improvements elsewhere? It is easy to argue so. However should we continue on the upward curve we are currently on we may well start to look like promotion contenders.



So in essence the question which player should we potentially let go if the need should arise. Certainly McGugan is the one that would bring in the sizeable fee necessary. Though the likes of Camp or Gunter would also be prime candidates for topflight moves for good money.

Not that I am condoning selling any of these players. In fact far from it, but the question is what if we had to? That’s certainly part of the equation of how our season will unfurl.

There is something else to fathom in as well. There will be a number of players contracts will be up in June, whose I am not sure. However, since do have dour financial concerns, can we afford not to agree a deal to get some kind of fee rather than let a player go for free like we did for Kelvin Wilson.

The Kelvin Wilson saga is a perfect example of missed chances to make some money. The guy barely got in the squad and though they cited that he was injured, it did have the feeling of treating the player with spite for having the temerity to sign for another club.

That is not a good option for us. We need to get money in help fund potential replacements. Yes, Doughty has said he will honour all existing contracts, but similarly many of the players we have signed will not likely agree new cut price deals. So therefore should we cash in? And sell vital players?

Well we did this before and it was a catalyst for a batch of youngsters to take us to the brink of promotion. Many players like Bart-Williams and Rogers were shipped out and we had to fast track youngsters to the first team. Admittedly a golden crop of youngsters, but all the same the circumstances of the time meant necessity.

We would all like to hold on to all our best players. And with them go on and succeed. But do we cash in on success whilst potentially losing fees? We could become like Watford have been. Selling players, but bringing in players on loan and signing up and coming players. We have been blessed for awhile in that we haven't had to sell any top players.

In essence I warn fans to expect to see maybe one big departure to finance potential incomings, especially after a change of manager. Fans won't be happy but that’s the state we are in. Fans demanded Doughty out, well the reality is without him we will be a selling club, and I hope that is what you wanted? His bankrolling and keeping the club on an even keel will end, and although he is lurking in the shadows and maintaining current contracts, there will have be a sense of financial self-control and if offers come in we will have to think long and hard about whether it is best for the club in the long term.

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