lost that loving feeling - Forest 'til I Die

The major talking point over the last few weeks has been about the club's financial position. Everyone knows the financial mess Forest are in at the moment and this is starting to take effect. Forest are due to release their accounts within the next fortnight and they are expected to be worse than last season despite getting rid of seven players over the last year. The club have lost the £3 million-parachute payment from Sky this season and that has had a big effect on the finances. The current television deal from ITV is not brilliant and instead of being paid a certain amount at the start of the season Forest get paid per game. This contributes to the financial mess Forest are currently in. Forest are also losing a lot of money on players wages and that is something they are trying to address.

Alan Rogers, Christian Edwards and Andy Johnson have left the club recently. Rogers moved to Leicester and Christian Edwards has gone on loan to Palace for a month with a view to a permanent deal. Andy Johnson went to WBA for a 'nominal' fee. These players cost Forest in the region of £5 million and have been let go for next to nothing. Is this good business sense? Another player who they are trying to sell is Chris Bart-Williams. The Bartman has been told that he will not play again this season. This is a move taken by the board, which has upset a few fans. You can see what the board are trying to do. If Bart-Williams does not leave then the club may be forced to sell one of the youngsters. Players like Prutton, Jenas and Williams have attracted interest from top clubs and it will only be a matter of time before one of these clubs puts in a bid for one of the youngsters but the board and fans don't want any of the youngsters to leave. These young players have done so well this season and they are the future of the club so it is important that we don't sell them. If this means some of the older players have to go then so be it.

The news that the club is in such a bad financial state has made some fans say that they are not going to watch Forest for the rest of the season. These supporters are very upset that we may have to sell some of our best players, but surely not going to games is going to make things worse. Forest need their supporters more than ever at the moment and we should totally get behind the team. The away fans are brilliant. The support the lads received at Crewe was fantastic as it normally is away from home. The club needs us so let's get behind the team during these bad times because the good times are not far away.

Forest need the fans that care about the club. I want to go to games and sing 'Forest 'til I die' with the people who mean it. There are many passionate fans that will stick by this club through thick and thin and that's the kind of passion we need. Nottingham Forest is life and death to many people including myself. No matter what situation Forest are in I was always support the Reds, as I know most of you will.

Even though the last two weeks have been difficult off the pitch Forest have collected 4 points from two games. The financial situation doesn't seem to have affected the players after they picked up a point against Preston at the City Ground and three points away at Crewe. The Preston game was probably our worst performance at home all season. Forest started off brightly but didn't build on the early goal JJ scored. We didn't create that many chances like we had been doing throughout the start of the season but if the lads do create opportunities like they have been doing then we will do well for the rest of the season.

The Crewe game was fantastic. The team performance was great and I was delighted that DJ scored two. He needed those goals and hopefully it will kick start his season. Stern Johns goal was good as well and it was nice to see the strikers scoring. The atmosphere at Crewe was excellent. Forest had one of the main stands and a small stand behind the goal. I would just like to say well done to all the fans who went to that game, the atmosphere was fantastic as it always is away and it helped the team record a 3-0 win.

We have a busy two weeks ahead. Forest face Pompey on Wednesday night, which will be a tricky game. Portsmouth is a difficult place to go to but the lads will be buzzing after their away day success at Crewe. After that we play Watford at home on Saturday. The lads will be looking to record our first double of the season against the Hornets after we beat them 2-1 at Vicarage Road a few weeks ago. Watford will be looking for revenge and this should be an exciting game.

The following Saturday we have another home game against Gillingham. They're not having the best of seasons but their form has started to pick up. Our last game at the City Ground last season was against the Gills and hopefully the result will be better this time around after they beat us 1-0. This should be another good chance for us to pick up three points and move up the table but it won't be easy against Gillingham.

I'll be back in two weeks time. Until then keep singing 'Forest 'til I die' with pride.