Editing Nottingham Forest F.C. (section)

==History==
{{main|History of Nottingham Forest F.C.}}

===19th century===
{{multiple image
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 | image1 = The Playwright (geograph 6704515).jpg
 | alt1 = The Playwright, formerly the Clinton Arms, in Sherwood Street, Nottingham

 | image2 = Plaque to formation of Nottingham Forest FC (geograph 6721173).jpg
 | alt2 = Plaque commemorating the foundation of Nottingham Forest Football Club at the former Clinton Arms, Sherwood Street, Nottingham

 | footer = The Playwright, formerly the Clinton Arms, on Sherwood Street, Nottingham, where the Forest Football Club was founded in 1865
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In 1865 a group of [[shinty]] players met at the Clinton Arms (now renamed The Playwright) at the junction of Nottingham's Shakespeare Street and North Sherwood Street. J. S. Scrimshaw's proposal to play association football instead was agreed and Nottingham Forest Football Club was formed. It was agreed at the same meeting that the club would purchase twelve tasselled caps coloured '[[Giuseppe Garibaldi|Garibaldi]] Red' (named after the leader of the [[Redshirts (Italy)|Italian 'Redshirts']] fighters). Thus the club's official colours were established. Matches were originally played at [[Forest Recreation Ground|Forest Racecourse]],<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Nottingham Forest |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club-information/history/history-of-nottingham-forest/ |website=Nottingham Forest Football Club |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref> historically part of [[Sherwood Forest]] and the presumed source of the word 'Forest' in the team's name.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ever Wonder why Nottingham Forest has Forest in their name? |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/ever-wonder-why-nottingham-forest-has-forest-in-their-name |access-date=3 January 2025 |agency=NBC Sports |date=11 February 2023}}</ref>

From 2019 to 2023, Nottingham Forest claimed to be the oldest remaining club in the [[English Football League]]. In 2019, when [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] were relegated from the league, [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] claimed to be the oldest remaining club, but football historian [[Mark Metcalf (footballer)|Mark Metcalf]] stated that Stoke was formed in 1868, rather than the 1863 date on the club's badge, and therefore Forest was the oldest club.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Paul |title=Birth certificate: Stoke City and Nottingham Forest locked in 'oldest club' debate |url=https://www.wsc.co.uk/stories/14245-birth-certificate-stoke-city-and-nottingham-forest-locked-in-oldest-club-debate |website=When Saturday Comes |access-date=19 August 2021 |date=July 2019 |archive-date=19 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819085919/https://www.wsc.co.uk/stories/14245-birth-certificate-stoke-city-and-nottingham-forest-locked-in-oldest-club-debate |url-status=live }}</ref> The EFL also stated that Nottingham Forest was the oldest.<ref>{{cite news |title=EFL pass judgement on whether Stoke City are now the oldest Football League Club |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-nottingham-forest-efl-2850974 |access-date=19 August 2021 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=9 May 2019 |archive-date=19 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819085918/https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-nottingham-forest-efl-2850974 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Forest's first ever official game was played against [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] taking place on 22 March 1866.<ref name=nffchist>{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history-landing-page/history-of-nffc/|title=History of NFFC|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=17 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717100358/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/club/history-landing-page/history-of-nffc/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 April 1870, when the team played their first game in league play, the steward of the club was John Lymberry and [[William Henry Revis]] scored the first goal. On that day, Revis also won the prize for kicking a football furthest with a kick of 161 feet 8 inches.<ref name="Wright, Forever Forest">{{cite book |last1=Wright |first1=Don |title=Forever Forest: The Official 150th Anniversary History of the Original Reds |date=2015 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=9781445635170 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G-FiCgAAQBAJ}}</ref>

In their early years Nottingham Forest were a [[multi-sports club]]. As well as their roots in [[bandy]] and shinty, Forest's [[baseball]] club were [[Baseball in the United Kingdom|British champions]] in 1899.<ref>{{cite news|title=Weirdest football team suffixes|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/05/weirdest-football-team-suffixes|date=5 August 2015|access-date=8 August 2015|work=The Guardian|archive-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910212536/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/05/weirdest-football-team-suffixes|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest's charitable approach helped clubs like [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] to form. In 1886, Forest donated a set of football kits to help Arsenal establish themselves – the North London team still wear red. Forest also donated shirts to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] and helped secure a site to play on for Brighton.

In 1878–79 season, Nottingham Forest entered into the [[FA Cup]] for the first time. Forest beat Notts County 3–1 in the first round at Beeston Cricket Ground before eventually losing 2–1 to Old Etonians in the semi-final.<ref name=nffchist/>

Nottingham Forest's application was rejected to join the [[Football League]] at its formation in 1888.<ref name=nffchist/> Forest instead joined the [[Football Alliance]] in 1889.

They won the competition in 1892 before then entering the Football League.<ref name="nffchist" /> That season they reached and lost in an FA Cup semi-final for the fourth time to date. This time it was to [[West Bromwich Albion]] after a replay.

[[File:1898team.jpg|thumb|right|The 1898 Cup-winning squad]]
Nottingham Forest's first FA Cup semi-final win was at the fifth attempt, the [[1897–98 FA Cup]] 2–0 replay win against Southampton. The first game was drawn 1–1. [[Derby County]] beat Nottingham Forest 5–0 five days before the final. Six of the cup final side were rested in that league game.<ref name=nffchist/> In that [[1898 FA Cup final]] at [[Crystal Palace National Sports Centre#FA Cup Finals (1895–1914)|Crystal Palace]] before 62,000 fans, [[Willie Wragg]] passed a 19th minute free kick to [[Arthur Capes]]. Capes shot through the defensive wall to score. Derby equalised with a free kick headed home by [[Steve Bloomer]] off the underside of the cross bar after 31 minutes. In the 42nd minute [[Jack Fryer (footballer, born 1877)|Jack Fryer]] was unable to hold a [[Charlie Richards]] shot giving Capes a tap in for his second goal. Wragg's injury meant Forest had to change their line up with Capes dropping back to midfield. In the 86th minute [[John Boag (footballer, born 1874)|John Boag]] headed away a corner by Nottingham Forest. [[John McPherson (footballer, born 1867)|John McPherson]] moved in to collect shooting low into the goal to win 3–1.<ref name=fa1898cup>{{cite web|url=http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1898.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928080720/http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1898.html|archive-date=28 September 2011|title=F A Cup Final 1898|date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

===First half of 20th century===
Forest lost FA Cup semi-finals in 1900 and 1902. They finished fourth in the [[1900–01 Football League]] followed with fifth place the season after. The club then started to slide down the table. Forest were relegated for the first time in 1905–06. [[Grenville Morris]] had his first of five seasons as the club's highest scorer en route to becoming the all-time club highest goalscorer with 213 goals.

Promotion as champions was immediate in 1906–07. The club was relegated a second time to the Second Division in 1911, and had to seek re-election in 1914 after finishing bottom of that tier; as the [[First World War]] approached it was in serious financial trouble. The outbreak of the War, along with the benevolence of the committee members, prevented the club going under.<ref name=nffchist/>

In 1919, the [[Football League First Division]] was to be expanded from twenty clubs to twenty-two in time for the [[1919–20 Football League]]: Forest was one of eight clubs to campaign for entry, but received only three votes. Arsenal and [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] gained the two additional top tier slots.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Joy of Six: Classic Arsenal v Tottenham matches|first1=Rob|last1=Smyth|first2=Simon|last2=Burnton|date=30 October 2009|access-date=5 March 2016|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/oct/30/joy-of-six-arsenal-tottenham|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306204747/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/oct/30/joy-of-six-arsenal-tottenham|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a turnaround from the first six seasons struggling back in the Second Division, Forest were promoted as champions in 1921–22. They survived each of the first two seasons back in the top flight by one position. In the third season after promotion they were relegated as the division's bottom club in 1924–25. They remained in the second tier until relegation in [[1948–49 in English football|1949]] to the [[Football League Third Division]].

===Re-emergence then decline (1950–1974)===
They were quickly promoted back two years later as champions, having scored a record 110 goals in the 1950–51 season. They regained First Division status in 1957.<ref name=nffchist/>

[[Johnny Quigley]]'s solitary [[1958–59 FA Cup]] semi-final goal beat [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. [[Billy Walker (footballer, born 1897)|Billy Walker]]'s Forest beat [[Luton Town]] 2–1 in the [[1959 FA Cup final]]. Like in 1898, Forest had lost heavily to their opponents only weeks earlier in the league.<ref name=nffchist/> [[Stewart Imlach]] crossed for a 10th-minute opener by [[Roy Dwight]] (the cousin of Reg Dwight better known as [[Elton John]]). [[Tommy Wilson (footballer, born 1930)|Tommy Wilson]] had Forest 2–0 up after 14 minutes. The game had an unusually large number of stoppages due to injury, particularly to Forest players. This was put down to the lush nature of the Wembley turf. The most notable of these stoppages was Dwight breaking his leg in a 33rd minute tackle with [[Brendan McNally]]. Forest had been on top until that point. Luton though gradually took control of the match, with [[Dave Pacey]] scoring midway through the second half. Forest were reduced to nine fit men with ten minutes remaining when [[Bill Whare]] crippled with cramp, became little more than a spectator. Despite late [[Allan Brown (footballer, born 1926)|Allan Brown]] and [[Billy Bingham]] chances [[Chick Thomson]] conceded no further goals for Forest to beat the [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] 1950s 'hoodoo' (where one team was hampered by losing a player through injury).<ref>{{cite web|last=Lacey|first=David|title=Wembley hoodoo rises from the rubble|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/feb/04/sport.comment|date=4 February 2006|work=The Guardian|access-date=12 August 2015|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112154505/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/feb/04/sport.comment|url-status=live}}</ref> Club record appearance holder [[Bobby McKinlay]] played in the final winning team captained by [[Jack Burkitt]].

By this time, Forest had replaced Notts County as the biggest club in Nottingham. [[Johnny Carey]] assembled a team including [[Joe Baker]] and [[Ian Storey-Moore]] that for a long spell went largely unchanged in challenging for the [[1966–67 Football League]] title. They beat title rivals [[Manchester United]] 4–1 at the City Ground on 1 October.<ref name=sea67son>{{cite web|url=http://stats.football.co.uk/results_fixtures/1966_1967/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|title=Nottingham Forest Results Fixtures 1966/1967|website=stats.football.co.uk|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205145055/http://stats.football.co.uk/results_fixtures/1966_1967/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The 3–0 win against [[Aston Villa]] on 15 April had Forest second in the table, a point behind United.<ref name=apr15tab>{{Cite web|url=http://stats.football.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1966_1967/15/apr/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|title=Nottingham Forest Historical Standings 15th Apr 1967|website=stats.football.co.uk|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205145027/http://stats.football.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1966_1967/15/apr/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Injuries eventually took effect, meaning Forest had to settle for being League runners-up and losing in the FA Cup semi-final to [[Dave Mackay]]'s [[Tottenham Hotspur]].<ref name=nffchist/>

The 1966–67 season's success seemed an opportunity to build upon, with crowds of 40,000 virtually guaranteed at the time. Instead, a mixture at the club of poor football management, the unique committee structure and proud amateurism meant decline after the 1966-67 peak. Forest were relegated from the top flight in 1972. [[Matt Gillies]]' October 1972 managerial departure was followed by short managerial reigns by Dave Mackay and [[Allan Brown (footballer, born 1926)|Allan Brown]].<ref name=nffchist/> A 2–0 [[Boxing Day]] home defeat by Notts County prompted the committee (Forest had no board of directors then) to sack Brown.

===Brian Clough and Peter Taylor (1975–1982)===
[[File:Brian Clough Nottingham Statue 1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Brian Clough (1935–2004) managed Nottingham Forest for 18 years]]

[[Brian Clough]] became manager of Forest on 6 January 1975, twelve weeks after the end of his 44-day tenure as manager of [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]].<ref name=miracle>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/10/brian-clough-miracle-nottingham-forest-european-champions-film-jose-mourinho|title=Brian Clough and the miracle of Nottingham Forest|first=Daniel|last=Taylor|date=10 October 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202120858/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/10/brian-clough-miracle-nottingham-forest-european-champions-film-jose-mourinho|url-status=live}}</ref> Clough brought [[Jimmy Gordon (footballer, born 1915)|Jimmy Gordon]] to be his club trainer, as Gordon had been for him at Derby County and Leeds.<ref name=gordon>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/17/brian-clough-jimmy-gordon-leeds-nottingham-forest-derby-county|title=The forgotten story of … Brian Clough's other right-hand man|first=Nick|last=Miller|date=17 September 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194716/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/17/brian-clough-jimmy-gordon-leeds-nottingham-forest-derby-county|url-status=live}}</ref> Scottish centre-forward [[Neil Martin (footballer)|Neil Martin]] scored the only goal in Clough's first game in charge, beating Tottenham Hotspur in an [[1974–75 FA Cup#Third round proper|FA Cup third round replay]].<ref name=qos>{{cite web|url=https://www.qosfc.com/legends|title=QosFC: Queens Legends|website=qosfc.com|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203075747/http://www.qosfc.com/legends|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Ian Bowyer]] was already at Forest and had won domestic and European trophies with [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. Clough signed Scots duo [[John McGovern (footballer)|John McGovern]] and [[John O'Hare]] in February, who both were part of Clough's Derby County [[1971–72 Football League]] title win. He signed [[Colin Barrett]] in March, initially on loan. Clough brought [[John Robertson (footballer, born 1953)|John Robertson]] and [[Martin O'Neill]] back into the fold after they had requested transfers under Brown.<ref name=nffchist/> [[Viv Anderson]] had previously debuted for the first team and became a regular under Clough.<ref name=guard>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/mar/05/viv-anderson-small-talk|title=Viv Anderson – Small Talk|first=Nicky|last=Bandini|date=5 March 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194806/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/mar/05/viv-anderson-small-talk|url-status=live}}</ref> The young [[Tony Woodcock (footballer)|Tony Woodcock]] was at Forest but was then unrated by Clough and was to be loaned to [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]].<ref name = "Lincoln">{{Cite news|title=Lincoln Spell Turned Me Around... says Woodcock|date=19 February 1984|access-date=17 July 2014|work=New Straits Times|location=Kuala Lumpur|page=16|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LJJUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6640%2C3144066|archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228001142/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LJJUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6640%2C3144066|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest were 13th in English football's second tier when Clough joined. They finished that season 16th. Forest signed [[Frank Clark (footballer)|Frank Clark]] in July of that close season on a free transfer.<ref name=chronic>{{cite web|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/how-newcastle-united-legend-frank-11865463|title=How Newcastle United legend Frank Clark celebrated his birthday – with a host of Geordie fans|first=John|last=Gibson|date=10 September 2016|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206074537/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/how-newcastle-united-legend-frank-11865463|url-status=live}}</ref> The season after, Forest finished eighth in Clough's [[1975–76 Football League]] first full season in charge.<ref name=miracle/> It was in this season, McGovern became long-standing club captain, taking over from a game in which [[Bob Chapman|Bob "Sammy" Chapman]] and [[Liam O'Kane]] were both injured.<ref name=mcg>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0kmSrRVXs0|title=My Forest story: John McGovern|date=1 June 2015|via=YouTube|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=4 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904075640/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0kmSrRVXs0&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1&bpctr=9999999999|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Peter Taylor (footballer, born 1928)|Peter Taylor]] on 16 July 1976 rejoined Clough, becoming his assistant manager, as he had been when winning the league at Derby.<ref name=miracle/> Taylor, included being the club's talent spotter in his role. After assessing the players, Taylor told Clough, "that was a feat by you to finish eighth in the Second Division because some of them are only Third Division players".<ref name="T87">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=87}}</ref> Taylor berated [[John Robertson (footballer, born 1953)|John Robertson]] for allowing himself to become overweight and disillusioned. He got Robertson on a diet and training regime that would help him become a European Cup winner.<ref name="T88">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=88}}</ref> Taylor turned Woodcock from a reserve midfielder into a 42 cap England striker.<ref name="T90">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=90}}</ref> In September 1976, he bought striker [[Peter Withe]] to Forest for £43,000, selling him to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] for £250,000 two years later.<ref name="T91">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=91}}</ref> Withe was replaced in the starting team by [[Garry Birtles]] who Taylor had scouted playing for non-league [[Long Eaton United F.C.|Long Eaton United]]. Birtles also went on to represent England.<ref name="T104">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=104}}</ref> In October 1976 Brian Clough acting on Peter Taylor's advice signed [[Larry Lloyd]] for £60,000 after an initial loan period.

Together, Clough and Taylor took Forest to new heights. The first trophy of the Clough and Taylor reign was the [[1976–77 Anglo-Scottish Cup]]. Forest beat [[Leyton Orient|Orient]] 5–1 on aggregate in the two-legged final played in December 1976.<ref name=miracle/> Clough valued winning a derided trophy as the club's first silverware since 1959. He said, "Those who said it was a nothing trophy were absolutely crackers. We'd won something, and it made all the difference."<ref name=espn78lc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/|title=Soccer Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Fixtures, Results, Tables - ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=15 September 2020|archive-date=12 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612051503/https://www.espn.com/soccer/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 7 May 1977, [[Jon Moore]]'s own goal meant Forest in their last league game of the season beat [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] 1–0 at the City Ground.<ref name=mill76wall>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thecityground.com/game.php?game_id=19770507 |title="Game Details – Millwall (H) – Sat May 07, 1977 (League Tier 2)" thecityground.com |access-date=6 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925215808/http://www.thecityground.com/game.php?game_id=19770507 |archive-date=25 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This kept Forest in the third promotion spot in the league table and dependent on [[Bolton Wanderers]] dropping points in three games in hand in the fight for third place.<ref name=res7677ult>{{Cite web|url=http://stats.football.co.uk/results_fixtures/1976_1977/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|title=Nottingham Forest Results Fixtures 1976/1977|website=stats.football.co.uk|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206143030/http://stats.football.co.uk/results_fixtures/1976_1977/nottingham_forest/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 May [[Kenny Hibbitt]]'s goal from his rehearsed free kick routine with [[Willie Carr]] gave Wolves a 1–0 win at Bolton.<ref name=mcg/><ref name=bol76ton>{{Cite web|url=http://stats.football.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1976_1977/17/may/bolton_wanderers/index.shtml|title=Bolton Wanderers Historical Standings 17th May 1977|website=stats.football.co.uk|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206142736/http://stats.football.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1976_1977/17/may/bolton_wanderers/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Bolton's defeat reached the Forest team mid-air en route to an end of season break in [[Mallorca]].<ref name=mcg/> Forest's third place promotion from the [[1976–77 Football League Second Division]] was the fifth-lowest points tally of any promoted team in history, 52<ref name=nffchist/><ref name=miracle/> (two points for a win in England until 1981).

Taylor secretly followed [[Kenny Burns]] concluding Burns's reputation as a hard drinker and gambler was exaggerated. Taylor sanctioned his £150,000 July signing. Burns became [[FWA Footballer of the Year]] in [[1977–78 Football League|1977–78]] after being moved from centre-forward to centre-back.<ref name=hooligan>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/11/nottingham-forest-brian-clough-i-believe-in-miracles|title=Signing 'a hooligan' and a Shankly team talk: how Clough set up Forest for title|first=Daniel|last=Taylor|date=11 November 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194753/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/11/nottingham-forest-brian-clough-i-believe-in-miracles|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="T96">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=96}}</ref> Forest started their return to the top league campaign with a 3–1 win at [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]. Three further wins in league and cup followed without conceding a goal. Then came five early September goals conceded in losing 3–0 at [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and beating Wolves 3–2 at home.<ref name=f7778site>{{cite web|url=http://footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1977-78/ClubResults/1977-78NottinghamForest.html|title=footballsite – Nottingham Forest results 1977/78|website=footballsite.co.uk|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005856/http://footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1977-78/ClubResults/1977-78NottinghamForest.html|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Peter Shilton]] then signed for a record fee for a goalkeeper of £325,000. Taylor reasoned: "Shilton wins you matches."<ref name="Fuf">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3758495.stm|title=Forest's unforgettable fairytale|last=Stevenson|first=Jonathan|date=21 September 2004|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 May 2009|archive-date=24 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124142708/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3758495.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> 20-year-old [[John Middleton (footballer, born 1956)|John Middleton]] was first team goalkeeper pre-Shilton. Middleton later in the month went in part exchange with £25,000 to [[Derby County]] for [[Archie Gemmill]] transferring to Forest.<ref name=worldf>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/report/premier-league-1977-1978-derby-county-leeds-united/|title=Derby County – Leeds United 2:2 (Premier League 1977/1978, 6. Round)|website=worldfootball.net|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206205431/http://www.worldfootball.net/report/premier-league-1977-1978-derby-county-leeds-united/|url-status=live}}</ref> Gemmill was another Scottish former 1972 Derby title winner.<ref name=hooligan/><ref name=gemm>{{cite web|url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/nottingham-forest-fc/archie-gemmill-5060/league-appearances-for-forest_a14705/|title=Archie GEMMILL – League appearances for Forest. – Nottingham Forest FC|website=Sporting Heroes|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194850/http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/nottingham-forest-fc/archie-gemmill-5060/league-appearances-for-forest_a14705/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Forest lost only three of their first 16 league games, the last of which was at Leeds United on 19 November 1977. They lost only one further game all season, the 11 March FA Cup sixth round defeat at [[West Bromwich Albion]].<ref name=f7778site/> Forest won the [[1977–78 Football League]] seven-points ahead of runners-up [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]. Forest became one of the few teams (and the most recent team to date) to win the First Division title the season after winning promotion from the Second Division.<ref group="nb">The others were [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in 1906, [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in 1932, Tottenham Hotspur in 1951 and [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] in 1962. Forest remain the only club to achieve this feat having not been promoted as champions.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jan/21/joy-of-six-promoted-success-stories |title=The Joy of Six: Newly promoted success stories |author=Scott Murray |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021253/https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jan/21/joy-of-six-promoted-success-stories |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/eedd.html |title=English Energy and Nordic Nonsense |author=Karel Stokkermans |website=[[RSSSF]] |date=17 June 2018 |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021416/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/eedd.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This made Clough the third of four managers to win the [[list of English football champions|English league championship]] with two different clubs.<ref group=nb>The others are [[Tom Watson (football manager)|Tom Watson]], [[Herbert Chapman]] and [[Kenny Dalglish]].</ref> Forest conceded just 24 goals in 42 league games.<ref name="Fuf" /> They beat Liverpool 1–0 in the [[1978 Football League Cup final]] replay despite cup-tied Shilton, Gemmill and December signing [[David Needham]] missing out.<ref name="T113">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=113}}</ref> [[Chris Woods]] chalked up two clean sheets in the final, covering Shilton's League Cup absence. McGovern missed the replay through injury, meaning Burns lifted the trophy as deputising captain. Robertson's penalty was the only goal of the game.<ref name=espn78lc/><ref name=lg78cup>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=508|title=English League Cup Betting – 1977/78 – Soccer Base|website=soccerbase.com|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206011411/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=508|url-status=live}}</ref>

Forest started season 1978–79 by beating [[Ipswich Town]] 5–0 for an [[FA Charity Shield]] record winning margin.<ref name=miracle/> In the [[1978–79 European Cup]] they were drawn to play the trophy winners of the past two seasons, [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]. Home goals by Birtles and Barrett put Forest through 2–0 on aggregate.<ref name=forliv>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/63471--nottm-forest-vs-liverpool/|title=UEFA Champions League – Nottm Forest-Liverpool|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194731/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1978/matches/round=1010/match=63471/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 26-year-old Barrett suffered a serious leg injury ten days later against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] that ultimately ended his professional career two years later. On 9 December 1978, Liverpool ended Forest's 42 match unbeaten league run dating back to November the year before.<ref name=miracle/> The unbeaten run was the equivalent of a whole season surpassing the previous record of 35 games held by [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] in 1920/21.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stevenson |first=Jonathan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3582930.stm |title=Wenger repeats Clough feat |work=BBC News |date=23 August 2004 |access-date=11 July 2009 |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228043956/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3582930.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The record stood until surpassed by [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in August 2004, a month before Clough's death. [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] played [[The Invincibles (Arsenal)|49 league games without defeat]].<ref name=invince>{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/the-unbeaten-record|title=49 Unbeaten|publisher=Arsenal F.C.|access-date=18 December 2017|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112010642/https://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/the-unbeaten-record|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 1979, Taylor authorised the English game's first £1&nbsp;million transfer signing [[Trevor Francis]] from [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]].<ref name="T124">{{harvnb|Taylor|1980|p=124}}</ref> In the European Cup semi-final first leg at home against [[1. FC Köln]], Forest were two goals behind after 20 minutes, then scored three to edge ahead before Köln equalised to start the German second leg ahead on the [[away goals rule]]. [[Ian Bowyer]]'s goal in Germany put Forest through. [[Günter Netzer]] asked afterwards, "Who is this McGovern? I have never heard of him, yet he ran the game." Forest beat [[Malmö FF|Malmö]] 1–0 in Munich's [[Olympic Stadium (Munich)|Olympiastadion]] in the [[1979 European Cup final]]; Francis, on his European debut, scored with a back post header from Robertson's cross. Forest beat [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] in the final 3–2 to retain the League Cup; Birtles scored twice, as did Woodcock once. Forest finished second in the [[1978–79 Football League]], eight points behind Liverpool.

[[File:Nottingham Forest FC (Amsterdam, 1980) - Francis, Clough, Robertson.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Trevor Francis]], Brian Clough and [[John Robertson (footballer, born 1953)|John Robertson]] in 1980]]
Forest declined to play in the home and away [[1979 Intercontinental Cup]] against Paraguay's [[Club Olimpia]]. Forest beat [[F.C. Barcelona]] 2–1 on aggregate in the [[1979 European Super Cup]] in January and February 1980, [[Charlie George]] scoring the only goal in the home first leg, while Burns scored an equaliser in the return in Spain.<ref name=esc79>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1979/|title=UEFA Super Cup – 1979: Burns' night for Forest|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612212027/http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1979/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the [[1979–80 Football League Cup]] Forest reached a third successive final. A defensive mix up between Needham and Shilton let Wolves' [[Andy Gray (footballer, born 1955)|Andy Gray]] tap in to an empty net. Forest passed up numerous chances, losing 1–0.<ref name=lc80f>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5pLX1RA1vg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/L5pLX1RA1vg| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=15/03/1980 Wolverhampton W v Nottingham Forest|date=21 December 2013|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the [[1979–80 European Cup]] quarter-final, Forest won 3–1 at [[Dinamo Berlin]] to overturn a 1–0 home defeat. In the semi-final, they beat [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] 2–1 on aggregate. They beat [[Hamburger SV|Hamburg]] 1–0 in the [[1980 European Cup final]] at Madrid's [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium]] to retain the trophy; after 20 minutes, Robertson scored, after exchanging passes with Birtles,<ref name="sofia">{{Cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/52681--nottm-forest/matches/?referrer=%2fuefachampionsleague%2fseason%3d1979%2fclubs%2fclub%3d52681%2fmatches%2findex|title=Nottm Forest - UCL - Matches|website=[[UEFA]]|access-date=15 September 2020|archive-date=6 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806035154/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/52681--nottm-forest/matches/?referrer=%2Fuefachampionsleague%2Fseason%3D1979%2Fclubs%2Fclub%3D52681%2Fmatches%2Findex|url-status=live}}</ref> and Forest then defended solidly.<ref>{{cite web |quote=Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport amusingly summed up the event by claiming that "Forest showed how English teams can implement [[Catenaccio]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52970612 |title=Bayern Munich: Branko Zebec, the brilliant, damaged manager who helped shape a giant |last=Yokhin |first=Michael |work=BBC Sport |date=6 August 2020 |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125003534/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52970612 |url-status=live }}</ref> Forest finished fifth in the [[1979–80 Football League]].

In the [[1980–81 European Cup]] first round, Forest lost 2–0 on aggregate to 1–0 defeats home and away by CSKA Sofia.<ref name="sofia"/> McGovern subsequently said the double defeat by CSKA affected the team's self-confidence, in that they had lost out to modestly talented opponents.<ref name=mcg/> Forest lost the [[1980 European Super Cup]] on away goals after a 2–2 aggregate draw against [[Valencia C.F.|Valencia]]; Bowyer scored both Forest goals in the home first leg.<ref name=vcf>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1980/#/|title=UEFA Super Cup – 1980: Valencia profit from Felman's fortune|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613003707/http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/history/season=1980/#/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 11 February 1981, Forest lost 1–0 in the [[1980 Intercontinental Cup]] against Uruguayan side, [[Club Nacional de Football]]. The match was played for the first time at the neutral venue [[National Stadium (Tokyo, 1958)|National Stadium]] in [[Tokyo]] before 62,000 fans.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toyota80.html| title = Intercontinental Club Cup 1980| first = Osvaldo| last = Gorgazzi| website = [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]| date = 13 February 2005| access-date = 5 December 2017| archive-date = 7 October 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181007012045/http://www.rsssf.com/tablest/toyota80.html| url-status = live}}</ref>

The league and European Cup winning squad was broken up to capitalise on player sale value. Clough and Taylor both later said this was a mistake.<ref name=gordon/> The rebuilt side comprising youngsters and signings such as [[Ian Wallace (footballer, born 1956)|Ian Wallace]], [[Raimondo Ponte]] and [[Justin Fashanu]] did not challenge for trophies. Taylor said in 1982,<ref name=taylorret>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVWksGGpSMk| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420154453/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVWksGGpSMk&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=20 April 2020 | url-status=dead|title=Peter Taylor Leaves Nottingham Forest 1982|date=31 December 2016|via=YouTube}}</ref> {{blockquote|For many weeks now I don't believe I've been doing justice to the partnership and I certainly haven't been doing justice to Nottingham Forest the way I felt. And consequently after a great deal of thought, there was no option. I wanted to take an early retirement. That's exactly what I've done.}}

John McGovern and Peter Shilton transferred and Jimmy Gordon retired in the same close season.<ref name=gordon/>

===Clough without Taylor (1982–1993)===
[[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]] beat Forest in the [[1983–84 UEFA Cup]] semi-finals in controversial circumstances. Several contentious refereeing decisions went against Forest. Over a decade later, it emerged that before the match, referee Emilio Guruceta Muro had received a £27,000 "loan" from Anderlecht's chairman [[Constant Vanden Stock]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/42383.stm |title=Forest sues Anderlecht over '84 bribery scandal |work=BBC News |date=24 December 1997 |access-date=14 June 2012 |archive-date=13 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113014012/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/42383.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Anderlecht went unpunished until 1997, when UEFA banned the club from European competitions for one year. Guruceta Muro died in a car crash in 1987.<ref>Catherine Riley: ''[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-after-13-years-anderlecht-are-punished-by-uefa-1240826.html Football: After 13 years Anderlecht are punished by Uefa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210024249/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-after-13-years-anderlecht-are-punished-by-uefa-1240826.html |date=10 December 2018 }}'', [[The Independent]], 23 September 1997 (per 7 June 2013).</ref>

Forest beat [[Sheffield Wednesday]] on penalties in the [[Football League Centenary Tournament]] final in April 1988 after drawing 0–0.<ref name=cent>{{cite web|url=http://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/articles/the-mercantile-credit-football-festival|title=The Mercantile Credit Football Festival|date=24 January 2013|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206074544/http://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/articles/the-mercantile-credit-football-festival|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest finished third in the league in 1988 and made the [[1987–88 FA Cup]] semi-finals. [[Stuart Pearce]] won the first of his five successive selections for the [[PFA Team of the Year]].

On 18 January 1989, Clough joined the fray of a City Ground pitch invasion by hitting two of his own team's fans when on the pitch. The football authorities responded with a fine and touchline ban for Clough.<ref name=qpr>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/22/seven-deadly-sins-football-lust-part-two|title=Seven deadly sins of football: Lust – from Antonio Cassano to a Dutch pool party|date=21 May 2009|website=The Guardian|access-date=18 December 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052823/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/22/seven-deadly-sins-football-lust-part-two|url-status=live}}</ref> The match, against QPR in the [[1988–89 Football League Cup|League Cup]], finished 5–2 to Forest.<ref name=for8889est>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1988-89/ClubResults/1988-89.NottmForest.html|title=footballsite – Nottingham Forest results 1988/89|website=footballsite.co.uk|access-date=18 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051540/http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1988-89/ClubResults/1988-89.NottmForest.html|archive-date=22 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Forest beat Everton 4–3 after extra time in the 1989 [[Full Members Cup]] final, then came back to beat Luton Town 3–1 in the [[1989 Football League Cup final]]. This set Forest up for a unique treble of domestic cup wins, but tragedy struck a week after the League Cup win. Forest and Liverpool met for the second season in a row in the FA Cup semi-finals. The [[Hillsborough disaster]] claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool fans. The match was abandoned after six minutes. When the emotional replay took place, Forest struggled as Liverpool won 3–1. Despite these trophy wins, and a third-place finish in the First Division, Forest were unable to compete in the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]], as English clubs were still banned from European competitions following the [[Heysel Stadium Disaster]]. [[Des Walker]] won the first of his four successive selections for the PFA Team of the Year.

[[Nigel Jemson]] scored as Forest beat [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]] 1–0 to retain the League Cup in 1990. English clubs were re-admitted to Europe for the [[1990–91 in English football|following season]], but only in limited numbers, and Forest's League Cup win again did not see them qualify. The only [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] place that season went to league runners-up [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]].

Brian Clough reached his only [[1991 FA Cup final|FA Cup final in 1991]] after countless replays and postponements in the third, fourth and fifth rounds. Up against [[Tottenham Hotspur]], Forest took the lead from a Pearce free kick, but Spurs equalised to take the game to extra-time, ultimately winning 2–1 after an own goal by Walker. [[Roy Keane]] declared himself fit to play in the final and was selected in preference to [[Steve Hodge]]; years later, Keane admitted he had not actually been fit to play, hence his insignificant role in the final.<ref>"Keane; The Autobiography". Roy Keane, Penguin Publishing Group, {{ISBN|9780718193997}}</ref>

In the summer of 1991, [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]'s league top scorer [[Teddy Sheringham]] became Forest's record signing, for a fee of £2.1&nbsp;million. [[1991–92 in English football|That season]], Forest beat Southampton 3–2 after extra time in the Full Members Cup final, but lost the [[1992 Football League Cup final|League Cup final]] 1–0 to Manchester United thanks to a [[Brian McClair]] goal. This meant that Forest had played in seven domestic cup finals in five seasons, winning five of them. Forest finished eighth in the league that season to earn a place in the new [[The Football Association|FA]] [[Premier League]].

Walker transferred to [[UC Sampdoria|Sampdoria]] during the summer of 1992. On 16 August 1992, Forest beat Liverpool 1–0 at home in the first-ever Premier League game to be televised live, with Sheringham scoring the only goal of the match. A week later, Sheringham moved to Tottenham. Forest's form slumped, and Brian Clough's 18-year managerial reign ended in May 1993 with Forest relegated from the inaugural [[Premier League]].<ref name=mole>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/liverpool/on-this-day/feature/otd-sheringham-nets-historic-goal_171318.html|title=On this day: Teddy Sheringham nets first televised Premier League goal – Sports Mole|website=amp.sportsmole.co.uk|date=16 August 2014 |access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051712/https://amp.sportsmole.co.uk/football/liverpool/on-this-day/feature/otd-sheringham-nets-historic-goal_171318.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The final game of that season was away at Ipswich. Forest lost 2–1 with Clough's son, Nigel, scoring the final goal of his father's reign.<ref name=nffchist/> Relegation was followed by Keane's £3.75&nbsp;million British record fee transfer to Manchester United.

===Frank Clark (1993–1996)===
Frank Clark from Forest's 1979 European Cup winning team returned to the club in May 1993, succeeding Brian Clough as manager. Clark's previous greatest management success was promotion from the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] with [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] in 1989. Clark convinced Stuart Pearce to remain at the club and also signed [[Stan Collymore]], [[Lars Bohinen]] and [[Colin Cooper]]. Clark brought an immediate return to the Premier League when the club finished [[Football League First Division|Division One]] runners-up at the end of the 1993–94 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football League First Division 1993/94|access-date=1 August 2012|work=Soccerbase|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=213|archive-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925183615/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=213|url-status=live}}</ref>

Forest finished third in [[FA Premier League 1994–95|1994–95]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Premiership 1994/95|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=119|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103125752/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=119|url-status=live}}</ref> and qualified for the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] – their first entry to European competition in the post-[[Heysel Stadium disaster|Heysel]] era. Collymore then transferred in the 1995–96 close season to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] for a national record fee of £8.5million. Forest reached the [[1995–96 UEFA Cup]] quarter-finals, the furthest an English team reached in UEFA competition that season. They finished ninth in the league.

The [[FA Premier League 1996–97|1996–97]] season quickly became a relegation battle. Clark left the club in December.<ref>{{cite news|title=Winless Forest lose manager Clark|agency=Agence France-Presse|work=The Nation|location=Bangkok|publisher=Nation Multimedia Group|date=20 December 1996|access-date=11 June 2012|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g8QpAAAAIBAJ&dq=stan%20collymore%20manchester%20united&pg=6625%2C1867265|archive-date=27 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227100218/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g8QpAAAAIBAJ&dq=stan%20collymore%20manchester%20united&pg=6625%2C1867265|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Stuart Pearce and Dave Bassett (1997–1999)===
34-year-old captain [[Stuart Pearce]] was installed as player-manager on a temporary basis just before Christmas in 1996 and he inspired a brief upturn in the club's fortunes. However, in March 1997 he was replaced on a permanent basis by [[Dave Bassett]] and left the club that summer after 12 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bassett quits Palace and joins Forest|agency=Reuters|work=The Nation|location=Bangkok|publisher=Nation Multimedia Group|date=1 March 1997|access-date=1 August 2012|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dKZNAAAAIBAJ&dq=bassett%20nottingham%20forest%20manager&pg=6362%2C145781|archive-date=8 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008194023/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dKZNAAAAIBAJ&dq=bassett%20nottingham%20forest%20manager&pg=6362,145781|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest were unable to avoid relegation and finished the season in bottom place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Premiership 1996/97|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=117|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=4 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235240/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=117|url-status=live}}</ref> They won promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt, being crowned Division One champions in 1997–98.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football League First Division 1997/98|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=209|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005002310/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=209|url-status=live}}</ref> Bassett was sacked in January 1999, with [[Ron Atkinson]] replacing him.<ref>{{cite news|title=Forest hire Atkinson the troubleshooter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-forest-hire-atkinson-the-troubleshooter-1046639.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-forest-hire-atkinson-the-troubleshooter-1046639.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Independent|first=Alan|last=Barnes|date=12 January 1999|access-date=1 August 2012|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/19707252|title=AFC Wimbledon: Dave Bassett involved in manager search|date=25 September 2012|work=BBC Sport|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=29 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529230536/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/19707252|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Into the 21st century below the top-flight (1999–2012)===
[[Ron Atkinson]] was unable to prevent Forest from once again slipping back into Division One, and announced his retirement from football management when Forest's relegation was confirmed on 24 April 1999, with three weeks of the Premier League season still to play.

Former England captain [[David Platt]] succeeded Atkinson and spent approximately £12&nbsp;million on players in the space of two seasons, including the Italian veterans [[Moreno Mannini]], [[Salvatore Matrecano]] and [[Gianluca Petrachi]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Platt hires Italians as Goldbaek balks|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-platt-hires-italians-as-goldbaek-balks-1110481.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-platt-hires-italians-as-goldbaek-balks-1110481.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Independent |location=London|date=3 August 1999}}</ref> However, Forest could only finish 14th in Platt's first season and 11th in his second. He departed in July 2001 to manage the [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] side and was succeeded by youth team manager [[Paul Hart]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hart named new Forest boss|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/1436112.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=12 July 2001|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113014052/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/1436112.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:NottinghamForestFC League Performance.svg|thumb|right|Chart of yearly table positions of Forest since joining the Football League.]] Now faced with huge debts, which reduced Forest's ability to sign new players, they finished 16th in Hart's first season in charge.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football League First Division 2001/02|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=149|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005010833/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=149|url-status=live}}</ref> By December 2001, Forest were reported as losing over £100,000 every week,<ref>{{cite news|date=5 December 2001|title=Sideline Chatter: Gesture gives soccer peace a chance|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20011205/chat05/gesture-gives-soccer-peace-a-chance|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=19 January 2015|first=Dwight|last=Perry|archive-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119153110/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20011205&slug=chat05#_ga=1.24308991.439502902.1421603385|url-status=live}}</ref> and their financial outlook was worsened by the collapse of [[ITV Digital]], which left Forest and many other Football League clubs in severe financial difficulties.<ref>{{cite news|title=Des clubs anglais privés de leur télé vache à lait|trans-title=English clubs deprived of their TV cash cow|url=http://www.liberation.fr/sports/0101407978-des-clubs-anglais-prives-de-leur-tele-vache-a-lait|first=Christophe|last=Boltanski|author-link = Christophe Boltanski|date=29 March 2002|access-date=16 November 2012|work=Libération|language=fr}}</ref> Despite the off-field difficulties, Forest finished 2002–03 in sixth place<ref>{{cite web|title=Football League First Division 2002/03|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=148|work=Soccerbase|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005024002/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=148|url-status=live}}</ref> and qualified for the [[2003 Football League play-offs#First Division|play-offs]], where they lost to [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] in the semi-finals. A poor league run the following season, following the loss of several key players, led to the sacking of [[Paul Hart|Hart]] in February 2004 with Forest in danger of relegation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Forest finally lose patience with Hart|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/07/newsstory.sport8|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=7 February 2004|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005043614/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/07/newsstory.sport8|url-status=live}}</ref> The decision was unpopular with certain quarters of the fanbase and Hart was described as a "scapegoat".<ref>{{cite news|title=Hart a hapless scapegoat as Forest fire their fans' outrage|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/09/sport.comment2|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=John|last=Rawling|date=9 February 2004|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005152717/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/09/sport.comment2|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Joe Kinnear]] was subsequently appointed and led the club to a secure 14th place in the final league table.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football League First Division 2003/04|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=147|work=Soccerbase|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005025520/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=147|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2004–05 season saw Forest drop into the relegation zone once more, leading to Kinnear's resignation in December 2004.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kinnear resigns as Forest manager|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/4101833.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=16 December 2004|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113014118/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/4101833.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Mick Harford]] took temporary charge of Forest over Christmas, before [[Gary Megson]] was appointed in the new year. Megson had already won two promotions to the Premier League with his previous club [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]], having arrived at the club when they were in danger of going down to Division Two, but failed to stave off relegation as the club ended the season second from bottom in 23rd place,<ref>{{cite web|title=Championship 2004/05|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=146|work=Soccerbase|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005013856/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=146|url-status=live}}</ref> becoming the first European Cup-winners ever to fall into their domestic third division.<ref>{{cite news|title=Premier League casualties – clubs that have struggled since relegation|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/premier-league-casualties--clubs-that-have-struggled-since-relegation-6818587.html|first1=Ben|last1=Bailey|first2=Patrick|last2=Whyte|date=19 March 2009|access-date=10 May 2015|work=London Evening Standard|archive-date=17 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617083334/http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/premier-league-casualties--clubs-that-have-struggled-since-relegation-6818587.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In Forest's first season in the English third tier in 54 years, a 3–0 defeat at [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Oldham 3–0 Nottm Forest|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4703864.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=15 February 2006|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113014129/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4703864.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> in February 2006 led to the departure of Megson by "mutual consent" leaving the club mid-table only four points above the relegation zone.<ref>{{cite news|title=Manager Megson leaves Forest|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2332336/Manager-Megson-leaves-Forest.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2332336/Manager-Megson-leaves-Forest.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=16 February 2006}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Frank Barlow (footballer)|Frank Barlow]] and [[Ian McParland]] took temporary charge for the remainder of the 2005–06 season, engineering a six-match winning run and remaining unbeaten in ten games, the most notable result a 7–1 win over [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest 7–1 Swindon|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4727238.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=25 February 2006|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113014138/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4727238.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest took 28 points from a possible 39 under the two, narrowly missing out on a play-off place, as they finished in 7th place.<ref>{{cite web|title=League One 2005/06|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=154|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=4 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004233733/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=154|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Colin Calderwood]], previously of [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]], was appointed as Forest's new manager in May 2006. He was their 12th new manager to be appointed since the retirement of Brian Clough 13 years earlier, and went on to become Forest's longest-serving manager since Frank Clark. The Calderwood era was ultimately one of rebuilding, and included the club's first promotion in a decade. In his first season, he led the club to the play-offs, having squandered a 7-point lead at the top of [[EFL League One|League One]] which had been amassed by November 2006. Forest eventually succumbed to a shock 5–4 aggregate defeat in the semi-finals against [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]]; they had taken a 2–0 lead in the first leg at [[Huish Park]], but were then beaten 5–2 on their own soil by the [[Somerset]] club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6649773.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Nottm Forest 2–5 Yeovil |date=18 May 2007 |access-date=10 April 2010 |first=John |last=Sinnott |archive-date=2 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402030310/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6649773.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Calderwood achieved automatic promotion in his second year at the club, following an impressive run which saw Forest win six out of their last seven games of the season, culminating in a dramatic final 3–2 win against [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] at the [[City Ground]]. Forest kept a league record of 24 [[clean sheet]]s out of 46 games, proving to be the foundation for their return to the second tier of English football and leaving them just one more promotion away from a return to the Premier League.

However, Calderwood's side struggled to adapt to life in the Championship in the [[2008–09 Football League|2008–09 campaign]] and having been unable to steer Forest out of the relegation zone, Calderwood was sacked following a [[Boxing Day]] 4–2 defeat to the Championship's bottom club [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/7800688.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Calderwood sacked as Forest boss |date=26 December 2008 |access-date=10 April 2010 |archive-date=27 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227101334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/7800688.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Under the temporary stewardship of [[John Pemberton (footballer)|John Pemberton]], Forest finally climbed out of the relegation zone, having beaten [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] 3–2.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7787640.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Nottm Forest 2–4 Doncaster |date=26 December 2008 |access-date=10 April 2010 |archive-date=4 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104184023/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7787640.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Billy Davies]], who had taken Forest's local rivals Derby County into the Premier League two seasons earlier, was confirmed as the new manager on 1 January 2009<ref>{{cite news|date=1 January 2009 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4728820,00.html |title=Forest appoint Davies |access-date=1 January 2009 |work=Sky Sports |publisher=British Sky Broadcasting |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104174639/http://www.skysports.com/story/0%2C19528%2C11095_4728820%2C00.html |archive-date= 4 January 2009 |url-status=dead |first=Chris |last=Harvey }}</ref> and watched Pemberton's side beat [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] 3–0 away in the FA Cup,<ref>{{cite news|title=Man City 0–3 Nottm Forest|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7803315.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=3 January 2009|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-date=22 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122082850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7803315.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> prior to taking official charge. Under Davies, Forest stretched their unbeaten record in all competitions following Calderwood's sacking to six matches, including five wins. He also helped them avoid relegation as they finished 19th in the [[EFL Championship|Championship]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Championship 2008/09|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=142|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005003814/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=142|url-status=live}}</ref> securing survival with one game to go.

Forest spent most of the [[2009–10 in English football|2009–10 campaign]] in a top-three position, putting together an unbeaten run of 19 league games, winning 12 home league games in a row (a club record for successive home wins in a single season), going unbeaten away from home from the beginning of the season until 30 January 2010 (a run spanning 13 games) whilst also claiming memorable home victories over local rivals Derby County and [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]. The club finished third, missing out on automatic promotion, and in the two-legged play-off semi-final were beaten by [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]], 2–1 away and 4–3 in the home leg, the club's first defeat at home since losing to the same opposition in September 2009.

[[File:Rob Earnshaw, Gareth McCleary and Forest teammates vs Cardif City, 20 November 2010.jpg|thumb|right|[[Robert Earnshaw]] and other key members of the 2010 play-offs side]]
The 2010–11 season saw Forest finish in sixth place in the Championship table with 75 points,<ref>{{cite web|title=Championship 2010/11|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=3|work=Soccerbase|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005012348/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=3|url-status=live}}</ref> putting them into a play-off campaign for the fourth time in the space of eight years. Promotion was yet again to elude Forest, as they were beaten over two legs by eventual play-off final winners [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]. Having drawn the first leg 0–0 at the City Ground,<ref>{{cite news|title=Ten-man Swansea have little trouble dousing Nottingham Forest's fire|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/12/swansea-city-nottingham-forest|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|first=Richard|last=Rae|date=12 May 2011|access-date=1 August 2012|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005120914/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/12/swansea-city-nottingham-forest|url-status=live}}</ref> they were eventually beaten 3–1 in the second leg.<ref>{{cite news|title=Darren Pratley finishes off Nottingham Forest to take Swansea to final|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=1 August 2012|date=16 May 2011|first=Joe|last=Lovejoy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/16/swansea-city-nottingham-forest-championship|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005045147/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/16/swansea-city-nottingham-forest-championship|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2011, [[Billy Davies]] had his contract terminated,<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest talk to McClaren after sacking Davies|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13644012.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=12 June 2011|access-date=18 July 2011|archive-date=22 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822093126/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13644012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Billy Davies Contract Terminated |url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~2375078,00.html |publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C. |date=12 June 2011 |access-date=18 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113010554/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10308~2375078%2C00.html |archive-date=13 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was replaced as manager by [[Steve McClaren]], who signed a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=Steve McClaren confirmed as Nottingham Forest boss|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13746920.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=13 June 2011|access-date=18 July 2011|archive-date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613111519/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13746920.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=New Manager Confirmed |url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~2375220,00.html |publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C. |date=13 June 2011 |access-date=18 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113011112/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10308~2375220%2C00.html |archive-date=13 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Forest started the 2011–12 season with several poor results and after a 5–1 defeat away to [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], [[David Pleat]] and [[Bill Beswick]] left the club's coaching setup.<ref name="McLaren resigns">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/oct/02/nottingham-forest-birmingham-city-championship |title=Birmingham fight-back seals exits of Steve McClaren and Nigel Doughty |work=The Guardian |date=2 October 2011 |access-date=3 October 2011 |last=Ashdown |first=John |location=London |archive-date=5 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005073726/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/oct/02/nottingham-forest-birmingham-city-championship |url-status=live }}</ref> Less than a week later, following a home defeat to [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]], McClaren resigned, and chairman [[Nigel Doughty]] announced that he intended to resign at the end of the season.<ref name="McLaren resigns" /> In October 2011, Nottingham Forest underwent several changes. These changes included the appointment of [[Frank Clark (footballer)|Frank Clark]] as new chairman of the club and also that of [[Steve Cotterill]], replacing the recently departed [[Steve McClaren]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/oct/14/steve-cotterill-nottingham-forest-manager |location=London |work=The Guardian |title=Steve Cotterill takes over as Nottingham Forest manager |date=14 October 2011 |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=6 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206024355/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/oct/14/steve-cotterill-nottingham-forest-manager |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Nigel doughty fans forum.jpg|thumb|left|Nigel Doughty: Nottingham Forest owner 1999–2012]] [[Nigel Doughty]], owner and previous chairman of the club, died on 4 February 2012, having been involved with the club since the late 1990s, with many estimating his total contribution as being in the region of £100&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-02-06 |title=The Times obituary: Nigel Doughty |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/the-times-obituary-nigel-doughty-n7k37cl00r7 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Al-Hasawi era (2012–2017)===
The Al-Hasawi family from Kuwait purchased the club in July 2012. They told the press that they had a long-term vision for the club based on a 3–5 year plan, and after interviewing several potential new managers, appointed [[Sean O'Driscoll]], formerly the manager at Doncaster Rovers and Crawley Town, as the manager on 19 July 2012. He was known for playing an attractive brand of passing football (which had taken Doncaster Rovers into the league's second tier for the first time since the 1950s) and what football fans would consider the Forest way.<ref name="McLeish leaves – Guardian" /> O'Driscoll had spent five months at the City Ground as coach under Steve Cotterill in the 2011–12 season.

By 15 December 2012, after the team's 0–0 draw away to Brighton, Forest sat in ninth position with 33 points, just three points off the play-off positions. On the same weekend, the club announced that Omar Al-Hasawi had stepped down for personal reasons and Fawaz Al-Hasawi, the majority shareholder with 75%, had taken the position,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/fawaz-al-hasawi-statement-546193.aspx|title=Fawaz Al Hasawi Statement|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|date=16 December 2012|access-date=19 December 2012|archive-date=18 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218083121/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/fawaz-al-hasawi-statement-546193.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> with his brother Abdulaziz Al-Hasawi holding a 20% share and his cousin Omar Al-Hasawi holding a 5% share.

On 26 December 2012, O'Driscoll was sacked following a 4–2 victory over Leeds United, with the club stating their intentions of a change ahead of the January transfer window and hopes of appointing a manager with Premier League experience,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20847476|title=Nottingham Forest sack manager Sean O'Driscoll|work=BBC Sport|date=26 December 2012|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=28 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228012119/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20847476|url-status=live}}</ref> eventually hiring [[Alex McLeish]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest name Alex McLeish as new manager|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20855227|work=BBC Sport|access-date=27 December 2012|date=27 December 2012|archive-date=28 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228003435/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20855227|url-status=live}}</ref> Chief executive Mark Arthur as well as scout Keith Burt and club ambassador Frank Clark were dismissed in January 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest: Mark Arthur, Keith Burt and Frank Clark leave|work=BBC Sport|date=17 January 2013|access-date=5 February 2013|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21063276|archive-date=20 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120060931/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21063276|url-status=live}}</ref> On 5 February 2013, Forest and McLeish parted company by mutual agreement after 40 days of cooperation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest part company with manager Alex McLeish by mutual agreement|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11727/8473102/Nottingham-Forest-have-parted-company-with-manager-Alex-McLeish-by-mutual-agreement|date=5 February 2013|access-date=5 February 2013|work=Sky Sports|publisher=British Sky Broadcasting|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701155140/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11727/8473102/Nottingham-Forest-have-parted-company-with-manager-Alex-McLeish-by-mutual-agreement|url-status=live}}</ref> Forest supporters and pundits alike registered their concern for the state of the club,<ref name="McLeish leaves – Guardian">{{cite news|title=Alex McLeish's sudden exit turns once-proud Forest into laughing stock|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/feb/05/alex-mcleish-nottingham-forest-exit|work=The Guardian|date=5 February 2013|access-date=6 February 2013|first=Stuart|last=James|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005160720/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/feb/05/alex-mcleish-nottingham-forest-exit|url-status=live}}</ref> with journalist [[Pat Murphy (sports journalist)|Pat Murphy]] describing the situation as a "shambles".<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest: Alex McLeish's exit leaves Reds in a mess|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21339472|date=5 February 2013|access-date=5 February 2013|work=BBC Sport|first1=Owen|last1=Phillips|first2=Matt|last2=Newsum|archive-date=6 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206170448/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21339472|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Stuart Pearce first game back as Nottingham Forest manager.jpg|thumb|right|[[Stuart Pearce]] returned as manager in 2014]]
Two days after McLeish's departure, the club re-appointed Billy Davies as manager, having been sacked as the team's manager twenty months previously.<ref>{{cite news|title=Billy Davies: Nottingham Forest re-appoint ex-manager|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21343978|work=BBC Sport|date=7 February 2013|access-date=7 February 2013|archive-date=8 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208061103/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21343978|url-status=live}}</ref> His first match in charge was a draw,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21448151|title=Nottm Forest 1–1 Bolton|work=BBC Sport|date=16 February 2013|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=21 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421200445/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21448151|url-status=live}}</ref> followed by a run of 10 undefeated games. In March 2014, the club terminated Davies's employment, following a 5–0 defeat by Derby County.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-240314-1440481.aspx|title=Club Statement|date=24 March 2014|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|access-date=24 March 2014|archive-date=24 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324155023/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-240314-1440481.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> After initially rejecting the job in March 2014,<ref name = "Pearce refuses Forest">{{cite news|title=Stuart Pearce refuses Nottingham Forest job|work=The Irish Independent|date=27 March 2014|access-date=8 July 2014|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/stuart-pearce-refuses-notts-forest-job-30131163.html|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701133835/http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/stuart-pearce-refuses-notts-forest-job-30131163.html|url-status=live}}</ref> fans favourite [[Stuart Pearce]] was named the man to replace Billy Davies, taking over from caretaker manager [[Gary Brazil]]. He signed a two-year contract commencing on 1 July 2014. Pearce led Forest to an unbeaten start to the season but failed to keep up the form. He was sacked in February 2015 and replaced by another former Forest player, [[Dougie Freedman]].

Another mid-table finish meant that Forest began the 2015–16 season still in the Championship and now in their 17th season away from the Premier League. On 13 March 2016, Freedman was sacked, following a 3–0 defeat at home to [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35798743|title=Dougie Freedman: Nottingham Forest manager sacked|date=13 March 2016|work=BBC Sport|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627182521/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35798743|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Paul Williams (footballer, born 1971)|Paul Williams]] was then appointed as temporary manager. Former [[US Boulogne|Boulogne]], [[Valenciennes FC|Valenciennes]], [[Real Sociedad]], and [[Stade Rennais|Rennes]] head coach [[Philippe Montanier]] was appointed on a two-year contract on 27 June 2016 becoming the club's first manager from outside the British isles, but was sacked after fewer than seven months in charge. [[Mark Warburton]] was named as the club's new manager on 14 March 2017. Forest narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the 2016–17 season, where a 3–0 home victory against [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] ensured their safety at the expense of [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest 3–0 Ipswich Town|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39760415|work=BBC Sport|date=7 May 2017|access-date=7 May 2017|archive-date=7 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507134434/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39760415|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Evangelos Marinakis and Premier League return (2017–present)===
On 18 May 2017, [[Evangelos Marinakis]] completed his takeover of Nottingham Forest,<ref>{{cite news|title=Evangelos Marinakis completes Nottingham Forest takeover and denies match-fixing allegations|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/may/18/nottingham-forest-evangelos-marinakis-takeover|work=The Guardian|date=18 May 2017|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202134557/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/may/18/nottingham-forest-evangelos-marinakis-takeover|url-status=live}}</ref> bringing an end to Al-Hasawi's reign as Forest owner. Incumbent manager Mark Warburton was sacked on 31 December 2017 following a 1–0 home defeat to struggling [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], with a record of one win in seven.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Warburton: Nottingham Forest sack manager after nine months in charge|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42528150|work=BBC Sport|date=31 December 2017|access-date=11 August 2018|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805090100/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42528150|url-status=live}}</ref> He was replaced by Spaniard [[Aitor Karanka]], who arrived on 8 January 2018, immediately after caretaker manager [[Gary Brazil]] had masterminded a 4–2 home win over holders [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the third round of the FA Cup.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nottingham Forest sign new manager|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2018/january/nottingham-forest-sign-new-manager/|date=8 January 2018|work=nottinghamforest.co.uk|access-date=11 August 2018|archive-date=19 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119120924/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2018/january/nottingham-forest-sign-new-manager/|url-status=live}}</ref> Karanka made 10 new signings during the January transfer window,<ref>{{cite news|title=Stefanos Kapino and Juan Fuentes join Nottingham Forest|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42994309|date=8 February 2018|work=BBC Sport|access-date=11 August 2018|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805100243/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42994309|url-status=live}}</ref> and following a 17th-place finish, he made 14 new signings during the summer transfer window and the following season results improved.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sam Byram: West Ham defender joins Nottingham Forest on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45152095|work=BBC Sport|date=10 August 2018|access-date=11 August 2018|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906112422/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45152095|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite a strong league position, Karanka left his position on 11 January 2019 after requesting to be released from his contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46822599|title=Aitor Karanka: Nottingham Forest manager leaves Championship club|work=BBC Sport|date=11 January 2019|access-date=11 January 2019|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108003302/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46822599|url-status=live}}</ref> He was replaced with former Republic of Ireland boss [[Martin O'Neill]] four days later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Martin O'Neill takes charge at Nottingham Forest |publisher=Sky Sports |date=15 January 2019 |access-date=15 January 2019 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11727/11607787/martin-oneill-takes-charge-at-nottingham-forest |archive-date=15 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115235931/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11727/11607787/martin-oneill-takes-charge-at-nottingham-forest |url-status=live }}</ref> O'Neill was sacked in June after reportedly falling out with some of the senior first team players, and was replaced with [[Sabri Lamouchi]] on the same day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48800839|title=Sabri Lamouchi: Nottingham Forest appoint Frenchman 18 minutes after sacking Martin O'Neill|date=28 June 2019|work=BBC Sport|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812222139/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48800839|url-status=live}}</ref> In Lamouchi's first season in charge, despite spending most of the season in the playoffs, Forest dropped to seventh place on the final day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-vs-stoke-city-4353648|title=Forest live: Latest on Lamouchi's future after Stoke disaster|first1=Barry|last1=Cooper|first2=Matt|last2=Davies|first3=Sarah|last3=Clapson|first4=Jamie|last4=Kemble|date=24 July 2020|website=NottinghamshireLive|access-date=22 July 2020|archive-date=22 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722231057/https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-vs-stoke-city-4353648|url-status=live}}</ref> On 6 October 2020, Lamouchi was sacked by the club following a poor start to the 2020–21 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2020/october/sabri-lamouchi/ |title=Sabri Lamouchi |website=nottinghamforest.co.uk |date=6 October 2020 |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805102437/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2020/october/sabri-lamouchi/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was replaced by former Brighton manager [[Chris Hughton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2020/october/nottingham-forest-appoint-chris-hughton-as-manager/ |title=Chris Hughton Appointed As Manager |website=nottinghamforest.co.uk |date=6 October 2020 |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805112344/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2020/october/nottingham-forest-appoint-chris-hughton-as-manager/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After an ultimately unsuccessful 11 months in charge, Hughton was sacked on 16 September 2021 after failing to win any of the club's opening seven games of the 2021–22 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/september/Club-Statement/|title=Club Statement|date=16 September 2021 |access-date=16 September 2021|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916085825/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/september/Club-Statement/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Forest chairman Nicholas Randall had initially promised that Forest planned to return to playing European football within five seasons, and yet poor transfers and a toxic club culture meant that Forest remained in the Championship four years into the Marinakis era.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Taylor|first=Daniel|title=Nottingham Forest: A baffling club desperately in need of some common sense|url=https://theathletic.com/2816089/2021/09/15/nottingham-forest-a-baffling-club-desperately-in-need-of-some-common-sense/|access-date=26 December 2021|website=The Athletic|language=en|archive-date=26 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226213953/https://theathletic.com/2816089/2021/09/15/nottingham-forest-a-baffling-club-desperately-in-need-of-some-common-sense/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the summer of 2021, structural changes were made at the club to try and correct the previous mistakes. Forest appointed Dane Murphy as Chief Executive, and [[George Syrianos]] was brought in as head of recruitment to bring about a more analytics driven transfer policy. The Forest hierarchy committed to avoiding the "short-termism" of previous windows by no longer signing players for more than £18,000 a week and mostly targeting younger signings that could be sold for a profit.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Taylor|first=Daniel|title=How Steve Cooper has transformed Nottingham Forest - now they must build on it|url=https://theathletic.com/3031316/2021/12/25/how-steve-cooper-has-transformed-nottingham-forest-now-they-must-build-on-it/|access-date=26 December 2021|website=The Athletic|archive-date=26 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226050743/https://theathletic.com/3031316/2021/12/25/how-steve-cooper-has-transformed-nottingham-forest-now-they-must-build-on-it/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 21 September 2021, Forest announced the appointment of [[Steve Cooper (football manager)|Steve Cooper]] as the club's new head coach.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Club|first=Nottingham Forest Football|title=Steve Cooper appointed head coach|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/september/Steve-Cooper-appointed-Head-Coach/|access-date=26 December 2021|website=Nottingham Forest Football Club|date=21 September 2021 |archive-date=28 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228001142/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/september/Steve-Cooper-appointed-Head-Coach/|url-status=live}}</ref> Cooper inspired a turnaround in form, arriving with the club in last place yet having them in 7th at Christmas, and all the way up in 4th by the end of the season, qualifying Forest for the playoffs for the first time since the 2010–11 season.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Club|first=Nottingham Forest Football|title=Forest draw at Hull to finish fourth|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2022/may/07/forest-draw-at-hull-to-finish-fourth/|access-date=15 May 2022|website=Nottingham Forest Football Club|date=7 May 2022 |archive-date=15 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515220902/https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2022/may/07/forest-draw-at-hull-to-finish-fourth/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2022 English Football League play-offs#Championship|2022 Championship play-off semi-final]], Forest defeated [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] on penalties to advance to the [[2022 EFL Championship play-off final|final]] against [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61389080|title=Nottingham Forest 1–2 Sheffield United|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 May 2022|archive-date=17 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517233318/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61389080|url-status=live}}</ref> who they beat 1–0 at [[Wembley Stadium]], and were promoted to the [[Premier League]] for the first time since the [[1998–99 Nottingham Forest F.C. season|1998–99 season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61539298|title=Huddersfield Town 0–1 Nottingham Forest|work=BBC Sport|access-date=29 May 2022|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528120528/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61539298|url-status=live}}</ref> Having entered the Premier League with a depleted squad after the promotion, in the leadup to the next season Forest signed 21 players for the first team squad. This was a British transfer record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62761807|title=Nottingham Forest break British transfer record but fail to sign Mitchy Batshuayi|last=Smith|first=Emma|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=1 September 2022|accessdate=2 September 2022|archive-date=2 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902002222/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62761807|url-status=live}}</ref> The club record fee was also broken multiple times, and the last such occasion in the transfer window was when [[Morgan Gibbs-White]] joined the club for £25 million with a potential to rise to £42 million subject to performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62604283|title=Morgan Gibbs-White: Nottingham Forest sign Wolves midfielder for club-record £25 million plus add-ons|last=Stone|first=Simon|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=19 August 2022|accessdate=2 September 2022|archive-date=26 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826025745/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62604283|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Nottingham Forest F.C. vs Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Play-Off Final 2021-22.jpg|thumb|Nottingham Forest F.C. vs Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Play-Off Final 2021-22]]

On 7 October 2022, after five straight defeats, the club announced Cooper had signed a new three-year contract.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fisher |first=Ben |date=7 October 2022 |title=Nottingham Forest give Steve Cooper new contract after opting against sack |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/07/nottingham-forest-steve-cooper-new-contract-sack |access-date=11 April 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411191351/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/07/nottingham-forest-steve-cooper-new-contract-sack |url-status=live }}</ref> Results improved temporarily, but in early April, after another poor run beset with injuries, Marinakis was forced to again say he had confidence in the manager. “We have all been disappointed with recent performances, and it is very clear that a lot of hard work needs to be done to address this urgently. Results and performances must improve immediately", he said in a statement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=sport |first=Guardian |date=5 April 2023 |title=Forest owner stands by Cooper but says results must improve |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/05/nottingham-forest-stand-by-steve-cooper-results-must-improve-immediately-owner-marinakis |access-date=11 April 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411084458/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/05/nottingham-forest-stand-by-steve-cooper-results-must-improve-immediately-owner-marinakis |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 11 April 2023, with the club in the relegation zone, sporting director Filippo Giraldi was sacked after six months in the job.<ref>{{Cite news |last=sport |first=Guardian |date=11 April 2023 |title=Nottingham Forest sack sporting director Filippo Giraldi after six months |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/11/nottingham-forest-sack-sporting-director-filippo-giraldi-after-six-months |access-date=11 April 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411191350/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/11/nottingham-forest-sack-sporting-director-filippo-giraldi-after-six-months |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 20 May 2023, Nottingham Forest sealed their Premier League status for the following season with a 1–0 home victory over [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/match/75277|title=Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal|work=Premier League Official Site|date=20 May 2023}}</ref> which also confirmed the title for [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. Forest collected 11 points from their last six games.

On 19 December 2023, the club sacked Cooper; he was replaced by previous [[Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah)|Al-Ittihad]] manager [[Nuno Espírito Santo]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Forest sack Cooper and hold talks with Nuno |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67757915 |access-date=2023-12-19}}</ref> On 15 January 2024, Nottingham Forest was charged with breaching Premier League [[Profit and Sustainability Rules|profit and sustainability rules]] in their accounts for 2022–23.<ref name="BBC-15Jan2024">{{cite news |title=Everton and Nottingham Forest charged with breaking financial rules by Premier League |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67978537 |access-date=15 January 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 Jan 2024}}</ref> On 18 March 2024, the club was docked four points, pushing them into the relegation places, after an independent commission found Forest's 2022–23 losses breached the £61m threshold by £34.5m.<ref name="Mashiter-18Mar2024">{{cite news |last1=Mashiter |first1=Nick |title=Nottingham Forest points deduction: Loss of four points drops club into relegation zone |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68594865 |access-date=18 March 2024}}</ref> The club appealed against the penalty,<ref name="BBC-25Mar2024">{{cite news |title=Nottingham Forest lodge appeal against Premier League points deduction |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68661196 |access-date=25 March 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=25 March 2024}}</ref> but their appeal was rejected.<ref name="BBC-07May2024">{{cite news |last1=Mashiter |first1=Nick |last2=Jackson |first2=Bobby |title=Forest points deduction appeal rejected |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cd13r56z21xo |access-date=7 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2024}}</ref>

Nottingham Forest secured their survival in the Premier League for the 2023–24 season with a 2–1 victory over Burnley at [[Turf Moor]] on 19 May 2024. Their overall score of 32 points in the league is the lowest for a team that avoided relegation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Burnley v Nottm Forest, 2023/24 {{!}} Premier League |url=https://www.premierleague.com/match/93694 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Burnley 1-2 Nottingham Forest: Wood double secures Forest's Premier League safety |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cxr3rxevw4qt |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In the [[2024–25 Premier League|2024–25 season]], Nottingham Forest were in [[UEFA Champions League]] spots for most of the campaign, reaching as high as third place on April 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mashiter |first=Nick |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cpq2qj9x9rxt |title=Nottingham Forest 1–0 Manchester United |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 April 2025 }}</ref> However, a run of poor form, including home defeats to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] and [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]], and a 2–2 draw with already-relegated [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]], saw them drop to seventh place with two matches remaining. Despite this, Forest secured European football for the first time in 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lansley |first=Peter |title=Nottingham Forest's Champions League hopes hit by late Leicester leveller |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/11/nottingham-forest-leicester-premier-league-match-report |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=The Guardian |language=en-GB}}</ref>However till the very last day Forrest competed for the [[2025–26 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] qualification, with a game against Chelsea, that could give them Champions League qualification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nottingham Forest receive major Champions League boost after 'silly' Chelsea decision |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-receive-major-champions-10172904
|access-date=2025-05-11 |website=nottinghampost.com|language=en-GB}}</ref>