NottinghamshireLive provides the most recent Nottingham Forest news as Toton is proposed as an alternate stadium site for the City Ground.
Nottinghamshire County Council will debate a prospective new stadium site for Nottingham Forest next week.
Nottinghamshire County Council has already stated that it is “more than happy” to “explore options” for a new stadium with the Reds if they decide to leave the City Ground.
Keith Girling, the county council’s cabinet member for economic development, suggested property near Toton as an alternative to the City Ground, telling the BBC: “We’d be delighted to discuss ideas with Forest, as with any firm or developer.
“We realize how important they are to the local economy. Hypothetically, if the land in Toton is acceptable, we would be interested.”
A motion on it is now scheduled to be considered at a Nottinghamshire County Council meeting.
Ashfield Independent councillor David Martin proposed the resolution, telling the BBC: “It’s apparent that as a county council, we need to reach out to the club, which is an economic powerhouse for our county.
“Toton already has the infrastructure, including a tram stop and a train station.
“Any new stadium at Toton will greatly exceed the current capacity of the City Ground.
“If Nottinghamshire County Council were serious about helping the club expand – then exploring options at this stage is eminently sensible and would only be a last resort.”
Forest chairman Tom Cartledge has stated that the club is prepared to contemplate relocating to a new stadium rather than redeveloping the City Ground, after rent negotiations with Nottingham City Council have stalled. The talks between Forest and the municipality are alleged to have halted because the council wanted to raise the rent to £1 million from £250,000.
Cartledge previously told the BBC: “We find ourselves in a position where, for the first time, we’re having to consider whether the future will be away from the City Ground.”
“In the future, football teams’ wage expenses will be significantly tied to revenue.
“If we don’t increase revenue, there’s a good risk we won’t be able to meet our goals, expand the playing roster, and provide the manager with the resources he need.
“Unless we see sufficient progress, it has become a reasonable debate point to look elsewhere.
“I’m frustrated, the owner is frustrated, because what he wants to do is give back what he promised the people of Forest, which is growth on and off the field and not to be able to do that is tough.”
