Nottingham Forest have been hit with a points deduction by the Premier League after breaching financial rules which has seen them drop into the relegation zone
Nottingham Forest have been deducted four points which leaves them in the Premier League's bottom three with the threat of relegation intensified.
Those at the City Ground knew they were facing the possibility of docked points as the Premier League begin to act on financial issues. Already Everton have been hit with a deduction this term – although their reduction went from ten points to six upon appeal recently.
Even before Forest lost points they knew they were in a battle to secure their top flight safety. Now, after they were punished for breaches of profit and sustainability rules for breaking the permitted limit of losses across a three-year cycle, they've been slashed four points.
It means their total, which was 25, drops to 21, and allows Luton Town, who were 18th, to jump up a spot. The Hatters sit on 22 points and are now a point clear of Forest. Burnley sit in 19th on 17 points whilst Sheffield United are rooted to the bottom on 14 points.
Forest opted to make a mid-season switch in the dugout, sacking Steve Cooper back in December and bringing in Nuno Espirito Santo. They landed major wins over Newcastle United and Manchester United early in his tenure, but have now won just once in their last nine games.
The East Midlands outfit have continued to spend huge sums on players, adding more than 40 new faces since promotion, which could now count against them. Their owner Evangelos Marinakis poured huge sums into the playing group in the summer of 2022 after their play-off victory at Wembley
Forest added the likes of Taiwo Awoniyi, Neco Williams, Jesse Lingard, Emmanuel Dennis and Morgan Gibbs-White – either for big fees or on big wages. They retained their Premier League status and then in the summer went again in the transfer market.
15. Brentford Pld 32, Pts 29, GD -13
16. Everton* – Pld 31, Pts 27, GD -10
17. Nottingham Forest** – Pld 32, Pts 25, GD – 16
18. Luton Town – Pld 32, Pts 25, GD -20
19. Burnley – Pld 32, Pts 19, GD -35
20. Sheffield United – Pld 31, Pts 16, GD -52
* Everton deducted eight points
** Nottingham Forest deducted four points
This time they signed Ibrahim Sangare for a club-record fee whilst Anthony Elanga and Chris Wood also came in following notable outlays. Despite all that investment Forest face the prospect of returning to the second tier with nine games of the season remaining – which will see them face direct rivals at the bottom in Everton, Sheffield United and then on the final day, Burnley.
Dropping into the Championship could cause more financial headaches for Forest with the Daily Mail recently reporting that few of their squad members have relegation clauses in their contracts. It means they would not face mandatory pay-cuts if the club are relegated.
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