June 29 2000

Owls Play Down Crossley Link: New Owls Boss, Paul Jewell, has been playing down press speculation that the Owls are set to make a move for Mark Crossley. The speculation suggested that Crossley was the immediate answer to the Owls goalkeeping shortage following departure of Pavel Srnicek.
However, Jewell refused to confirm or deny any interest in the player saying: "Agents ring you up and mention a certain name, and the next thing you know it's in the newspaper.
"The goalkeeping front is a matter of some concern, but we still have six weeks or so before the season starts and it's important that we don't rush in and take the first one we see just because we're light."

Jaber To Face Leeds: David Platt is trying to put the finishing touches to a trial period for Sami Al-Jaber in the hope that he can use Forest's pre-season friendly with Leeds United to determine whether or not to make a move for the Saudi Arabian international.
Platt is looking at the clash with Leeds as an ideal platform upon which to evaluate Al-Jaber's suitability. If all goes according to plan and Al-Jaber confirms his reputation on English soil then Forest will aim to line up a loan move with his current club Al-Hilal.

Birmingham Chase Quashie: Birmingham City are the latest club to be linked with a move for unsettled midfielder Nigel Quashie. The latest speculation is that Trevor Francis is keen on doing a deal for Quashie and is thought to be willing to send Peter Ndlovu in the opposite direction as part of the deal.
Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean international and currently has 12 months left on his contract at City. However, the past season was blighted by injury and he was transfer listed along with several other big names by City at the close of the season.

June 28 2000

Pompey Persue Quashie: After yesterday's rumours that Nigel Quashie had been linked with a swap move to Millwall, Portsmouth have now entered the frame. Manager Tony Pulis has expressed an interest in the former QPR man, who has failed to settle at the City Ground and was transfer-listed in the closing stages of last season. It is not known yet whether this is just newspaper speculation or Portsmouth are tabling a bid.

June 27 2000

Quashie Into The Lions Den: Rumours are surfacing that indicate Nigel Quashie could be on his way back to London to join Millwall. Rumours also indicate that Millwall striker Neil Harris could be on his way to the City Ground in an exchange move.
Harris managed to knock in 25 goals for Millwall last season and could be an asset for Forest who are currently short of goalscoring power.
Quashie joined Forest from QPR in 1998 for a sum of £2.5 million and despite playing in 28 games for Forest last season he is unsettled at the City Ground and has been on the transfer list for a couple of months now. A move back to London is understood to be high on his list of priorities.

June 26 2000

Owls Favourites For Crossley: Sheffield Wednesday have emerged as the current favourites to land the signature of Mark Crossley after their current 'keeper, Pavel Srnicek walked out on Wednesday following relegation from the Premiership, claiming that he wants to play in the top flight.
New Owl's boss, Paul Jewell currently has only Kevin Pressman at his disposal, so earlier rumours linking Crossley with a move to Hillsborough could turn out to be correct after all.

Forest Still Chasing Jones: Forest are understood to be closing in on Tranmere's Gary Jones who is available on a Bosman this summer. The 25-year-old is also being chased by Dave Bassett at Barnsley, but it is rumoured that the player has indicated he would prefer a switch to The City Ground and is poised for talks with manager David Platt within the next few days.
Platt is due to return from holiday tomorrow and one of his first jobs will be to meet Jones and try to tie up any loose ends on the transfer.

June 24 2000

Calderwood Delays Return: It is believed that Colin Calderwood has delayed his comeback from injury after accepting that he will not be fit enough to start pre-season training with the rest of the first team squad.
Calderwood is still on crutches after an operation to repair a broken leg and damaged ankle ligaments. He received the injury against Birmingham City towards the end of last season when he fell awkwardly after challenging for a high ball. He now expects to be back in full training by late August.
Despite the setback in his recovery, Calderwood is optimistic about the coming season for Forest, saying: "There is no way we will be allowed to have a season like the last one.
"But it is going to be very difficult because there are a lot of clubs capable of challenging for promotion.
"But I think we're going to be one of them . We've definitely got the players and the ability."
"I just hope I can be part of it as soon as possible."

June 21 2000

More Defenders on the Mend: Having already received the news that Colin Calderwood and Tony Vaughan are well on the road to being fit for the start of the new season, Forest have now received a further boost with the news that Salvatore Matrecano and Jesper Mattsson are also making good progress in their bids to get fit.
Mattsson injured his knee in the pre-season game against Bradford City and was out all through the season. He returned to his former club, Halmstad at the end of the last season in a bid to get himself fit again. The plan appears to be working well and the Swedish international is expected to be ready for the start of the new season on August 12.
Matrecano suffered serious knee ligament damage injury early last season and he was forced to sit out the rest of the campaign. He started his comeback at the end of the season with a couple of appearances in the reserves and then returned to Italy to work on his fitness throughout the summer. He is also expected to be ready for the start of the new season.

June 20 2000

Brennan Recovering: Full back Jim Brennan is well on the road to recovery after undergoing a hernia operation at the end of last season. He has been recovering in his Native Canada, and expects to link up with the rest of the squad for the pre-season tour of the USA.

June 16 2000

Crossley Still O'Neill Target: Today's newspapers are reporting that Mark Crossley is still a target for Martin O'Neill.
O'Neill was linked with the keeper while he was still manager at Leicester City, however, when he moved on to the managers job at Celtic it looked like Crossley would miss out.
The press are also speculating that despite O'Neill's departure for Celtic, Leicester are still interested in Crossley.

Forest Look At Roberts: The latest player to be attracting the attention of David Platt is Bristol Rovers striker Jason Roberts. Roberts failed to play a game for his first team, Wolves and spent loan periods at Torquay and Bristol City. However, since he made the permanent move to Bristol Rovers his career has taken off and a good tally of goals last season has bought him to the attention of Platt.
Rovers value the striker at £3 million, but are reluctant to let the player leave. David Platt may find the competition for the youngster a bit hot as other First Division and Premiership clubs are also rumoured to be interested in the striker.

June 13 2000

Defenders On The Mend: Forest's defensive pairing of Colin Calderwood and Tony Vaughan are both reportedly making good recoveries after undergoing surgery. Both look like being ready for the start of the new season though they may miss out on some or all of the pre-season games.

Calderwood has been rehabilitating at Lilleshall and is due back at The City Ground next Monday to step up his recovery from the injury, a broken leg and ankle ligament damage. He will join Tony Vaughan, who went under the knife for a knee injury. Vaughan has given up his summer holiday in a bid to get fit for the new season and has been training everyday at the City Ground to aid his recovery.

June 12 2000

Primus Is Target: Forest are reportedly interested in 26 year old Reading central defender Linvoy Primus. Primus is out of contract and has turned down a new deal with the Royals. Forest face stiff competition for the former Barnet and Charlton player from both Southampton and Barnsley.

June 11 2000

Hignett Deal Is No Go: Forest have today reportedly had their cash plus player offer for Craig Hignett turned down by Barnsley. Forest are understood to have offered a substantial amount of cash plus Dougie Freedman in exchange for the attacking midfielder, however, Dave Bassett has turned down the offer. It is not known whether Forest have any plans to increase their offer at the moment.

Psycho Says No To Foxes: According to the Sunday press today, Stuart Pearce has turned down the chance to become Leicester City's new manager, in favour of continuing his playing career at Upton Park.

According to the articles, Psycho was the Foxes first choice to step into the managers chair after Martin O'Neill left for Celtic. Now that he has turned them down they are understood to be turning their attention to Peter Taylor, the current Gillingham manager.

June 9 2000

Platt Chases Hignett: David Platt is rumoured to be chasing Barnsley midfielder Craig Hignett. According to the speculation Forest have made a ‘cash-plus-player’ bid for the 30-year-old attacking midfielder.

Hignett is believed to be unsettled after Barnsley failed in their bid to reach the Premier League when they were beaten in the play-off final by Ipswich. The main areas of concern for Platt are the lack of goals from the strike force, so a first class striker appears to be the main target, however, Hignett is a midfielder with an impressive goalscoring ratio, having finished last season with 21 goals, including two in the play-off final against Ipswich.

Platt said: “We could do with a midfield player who can set the world alight in terms of goalscoring and Craig’s record speaks for itself in that department.
“The odd goal here and there would have put a different complexion on last season and Craig is the type of player who could provide us with that bit extra.
“He not only scores goals, but being such an attack-minded midfielder, he also creates plenty of chances, so he would give us so many options.”

Forest are not alone in the chase for Hignett and currently they face competition several other clubs including Premiership teams like Bradford and Manchester City.

June 8 2000

Norm Linked To Spain: Mark Crossley has been linked with possible moves to Spain today. It is understood that two Spanish Primera League clubs are chasing the signature of the 31 year old Welsh International.

Big Norm was being linked with a move to Leicester City but the deal appears to have died a natural death after Martin O'Neill moved to Celtic.

June 7 2000

Nolan Linked To Forest: It is rumoured today that David Platt is tracking Sheffield Wednesday defender Ian Nolan, who can leave on a free transfer this summer.

The 29 year-old has made nearly 200 appearances for the South Yorkshire club, but will leave Hillsborough this summer after failing to agree a new deal.

The defender, a Northern Ireland international, is attracting a lot of interest from a number of clubs and at the last count Forest faced competition from West Ham, Charlton and Bolton for his services.

Forest Lead Race For Tranmere Striker: Forest have emerged as clear favourites to land Tranmere's out of contract striker Gary Jones following earlier reports declaring their interest in him.

The 25 year old Tranmere striker is looking for a move after seven years at Prenton Park and Platt seems to have beaten off a challenge from First Division rivals Barnsley and Burnley.

June 6 2000

Forest Linked To Tranmere Striker: Forest are being linked with a move for Tranmere Rovers striker Gary Jones. The 25 year old, who helped Tranmere reach the Worthington Cup final and FA Cup quarter finals last season, is available on a free transfer this summer under the Bosman ruling.

Platt is planning to hold transfer talks with him as soon he returns from holiday. Platt said:: "Gary is an exciting young player who I'm sure would prove to be an excellent acquisition for us.

"He can play either up front or in midfield and, more importantly, he can score goals.

"We are considering making him an offer but he's currently away on holiday. A few other clubs are interested in him but I would think that we are the best proposition. "I'm quite confident that we can seal the move in the next few weeks."

June 2 2000

Crossley On The Bench: It looks like Mark Crossley is to miss out again tonight as Wales take on Portugal tonight. The smart money is on Crossley starting on the bench as number 2 to Swansea's Roger Freestone.

Though Crossley is no longer a Forest player, Forest will be represented in tonight's game in Portugal by Andy Johnson - who looks to have missed out on a possible summer move to Leicester City after Martin O'Neill finally moved to Celtic. Mind you, I suppose there is no reason why O'Neill can't pursue his interest in Johnson from North of the border.

June 1 2000

Pre-Season Games: Forest are rumoured to be close to sorting out their pre-season fixture list and an announcement is due any time now. Forest have only one game definitely arranged, against Leeds United at the City Ground on July 29. Though it is understood they are looking to arrange fixtures in Trinidad and America - Florida being the current favourite destination.

More news on the pre-season fixtures when they are announced.

Hope Move Doubtful: As we surmised earlier, the possibility that Chris Hope would return to Forest looked like it was paper speculation during a quiet period in news from the Forest Camp. Indeed this has turned out to be the case and the speculation was based on the fact that David Platt had travelled to Scunthorpe at the end of last season. There has been no news on whether or not Platt will be pursuing his interest in any Scunthorpe player at this time.