How much would you pay for this team? Nottingham Forest let them all go for FREE

There have been far too many instances of financial mismanagement at Nottingham Forest under the stewardship of Fawaz Al-Hasawi - several winding-up orders, large compensation packages for sacked managers, the recent full transfer embargo (in addition to the existing partial one) and Djamel Abdoun.
Nottingham Forest's Robert Earnshaw celebrates scoring at Pride ParkNottingham Forest's Robert Earnshaw celebrates scoring at Pride Park
Nottingham Forest's Robert Earnshaw celebrates scoring at Pride Park

One element of fiscal policy that has actually been an improvement on the Nigel Doughty/Mark Arthur era however has been that no player worth keeping has been allowed to leave on a free transfer, with contracts renewed in good time.

Dorus de Vries signing a two-year extension being the latest example. Under the previous regime, there was a shockingly high-rate of players who left the club due to not having been offered a new deal until after they were allowed to speak to other clubs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This is a strong Forest team made up of players who were all allowed to go for free.

Celtic's Kris Commons celebrates his goal during the Scottish Premier League match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday February 2, 2014. See PA story SOCCER Celtic. Photo credit should read: Jeff Holmes/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLYCeltic's Kris Commons celebrates his goal during the Scottish Premier League match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday February 2, 2014. See PA story SOCCER Celtic. Photo credit should read: Jeff Holmes/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Celtic's Kris Commons celebrates his goal during the Scottish Premier League match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday February 2, 2014. See PA story SOCCER Celtic. Photo credit should read: Jeff Holmes/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Darren Ward (GK)

The Worksop born Wales international was a key player for the Forest team that made the Championship play-offs in 2003, and a year later he departed for newly-promoted Norwich, retiring after representing another Premier League club in Sunderland. Forest were relegated in their first season without Ward.

Luke Chambers (RB)

The goal-scoring defender was voted as the club’s Player of the Season in 2010/11, and followed that by being named as club captain by Steve McClaren on his arrival in that summer. Joined Ipswich at the end of that season and his now captain there, too.

Nottingham Forest's Gareth McCleary (right) has a shot blocked by West Ham United's Danny Gabbidon (right) and Herita Ilunga (centre) during the FA Cup Fourth Round match at Upton Park, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday January 30, 2011. See PA Story SOCCER West Ham. Photo credit should read: Rui Vieira/PA Wire. Use subject to restrictions. Editorial print use only except with prior written approval. New media use requires licence from Football DataCo Ltd. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 or see www.pressassociation.com/images/restrictions for full restrictions.Nottingham Forest's Gareth McCleary (right) has a shot blocked by West Ham United's Danny Gabbidon (right) and Herita Ilunga (centre) during the FA Cup Fourth Round match at Upton Park, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday January 30, 2011. See PA Story SOCCER West Ham. Photo credit should read: Rui Vieira/PA Wire. Use subject to restrictions. Editorial print use only except with prior written approval. New media use requires licence from Football DataCo Ltd. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 or see www.pressassociation.com/images/restrictions for full restrictions.
Nottingham Forest's Gareth McCleary (right) has a shot blocked by West Ham United's Danny Gabbidon (right) and Herita Ilunga (centre) during the FA Cup Fourth Round match at Upton Park, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday January 30, 2011. See PA Story SOCCER West Ham. Photo credit should read: Rui Vieira/PA Wire. Use subject to restrictions. Editorial print use only except with prior written approval. New media use requires licence from Football DataCo Ltd. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 or see www.pressassociation.com/images/restrictions for full restrictions.

Joel Lynch (LB)

The young defender came into his own in the troubled 2011/12 season before leaving for Huddersfield in the summer.

Wes Morgan (CB)

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The only player on this list who did actually depart for a fee, the £500k Leicester paid for him in January 2012 as his contract was due to expire was a paltry sum for the club’s longest serving player and product of the youth academy. Proving to be not quite Premier League class for Leicester this season, but was a hugely influential figure for them in the two and a half years he captained them in the Championship after leaving Forest.

Kelvin Wilson (CB)

Left on a free to Celtic in summer 2011, bought back for £2.5m two years later.

Paul Anderson (RW)

Never quite lived up to his full potential at Forest, the former Liverpool winger nonetheless is a player who, ideally, could have a fetched a decent transfer fee.

Garath McCleary (LW)

As with Joel Lynch, a player signed from the lower leagues by Colin Calderwood and beginning to really show his quality in the 2011/12 season, memorably scoring 4 goals in one game away at Leeds. Although Doughty tragically passed away in February of this season, it remains a shame that he was not able to secure his legacy by having signed up Lynch and McCleary to longer-term deals earlier.

Sammy Clingan (CM)

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Was an important part of the Forest side that got promoted from League One in 2008, only to switch to Norwich in the summer.

Kris Commons (CM)

Commons followed Clingan out the door after starring in the promotion-winning campaign - a move which sparked far greater ire amongst fans as the self-confessed Forest fan Commons made the switch to arch-rivals Derby County. The attacker was to use the Bosman rule again to force a cut price switch to Celtic two-and-a-half years later where he has been a great success, scoring 32 goals last year for the Scottish champions.

Robert Earnshaw (ST)

Was the top scorer in his first two seasons at Forest, and still managed a respectable nine goals in his third and final season. Although he has not been particularly successful in a nomadic career since departing the City Ground, it was baffling at the time to see the Welshman not handed a new deal after his goalscoring exploits in those first two seasons.

Nathan Tyson (ST)

As with Earnshaw, has not really had a stellar career since departing the City Ground in 2011. Had it not been for injuries, could have made a far bigger impact Trentside.