From frustration to anger
14/09/04 | by Tony Stevens

Last week I thought it would help me to write something about Forest, as like many others I care and wanted to share my concerns. The general theme of what I was going to write was one of frustration but, in the end, having read others cover a lot of my points in their articles, I didn't finish my piece. This week my feelings towards the club are changing from frustration to anger. 

Today it has been confirmed that both Stern John and Sean Gregan won't be signing for us. Now, I admit that neither of these players are world beaters and I am not altogether certain about the logic in trying to re-sign players that weren't that special in their first spell with the club, but such is the desperation I feel for wanting to hear something positive the signing of either of these players in my opinion would have been a step forward.

I am sure that a lot of effort is being made by the club to recruit the right kind of player to move us forward, but when we start losing out in the transfer market to the likes of Coventry the alarm bells start to go off. In my view the last positive move we made was at the beginning of July with the signings of Paul Gerrard and Kris Commons. However, since then it has been a constant tale of woe both on and off the pitch.

I can't pretend to have insider knowledge of the wealth of Nigel Doherty and what he chooses to do with his money is his business. However, even if he is as wealthy as some have suggested, I am sure there are a lot of supporters who invest just as much of their money to Forest in percentage terms when buying season tickets, merchandise and following the club home and away every year.

It is also these supporters' money the club are risking losing because, if there has been one consistent factor over the last few years of mediocrity, it has been the fans attendance at games. But as the saying goes, you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

As I say last week it was frustration, today anger - who knows, tomorrow we may have beaten Sunderland and things would be looking a whole lot brighter. The fact is a win, although most welcome, would just paper over the cracks. It wouldn't change most people's overall view that without further significant investment the club are going to remain, at best, an average Championship side. 

During Paul Hart's time in charge I used to hate it when the club kept referring to the supposed five-year plan for our Premiership return. It just shows how things have changed that hearing the club referring to any kind of plan at this point in time would at least give me some hope that the future isn't as bleak as it is looking at the moment.