May 30 2000

Crossley Move Looking Dodgy: Mark Crossley's move to Leicester City is looking very dodgy at the moment. Speculation prior to the weekend was that 'Big Norm' would be a Fox by the end of the week. Unfortunately for the Welsh International, Celtic then expressed their interest in Martin O'Neill becoming their new manager and the deal went very quiet.

As of 17:30 this afternoon both radio and television have said that Martin O'Neill has agreed to become the new manager at Celtic, however, there has been no official confirmation from Leicester or Celtic at this point.

Should Martin O'Neill become the manager at Celtic it is unlikely that the Mark Crossley deal will go through in it's present form, though any new manager at Leicester may still want to bring in another keeper with Pegguy Arphexad looking to be on his way to Liverpool.

Mark Crossley commented in the local press: "Leicester was the first choice for a new club for me after finding out that Forest was not an option. But if it doesn't go ahead there are still a couple of other Premier League clubs interested so I just have to wait and see.

"There is also a First Division club that is interested but I would prefer to stay in the East Midlands."

Defender To Return: It's obviously a slow time for news and gossip at the moment so it looks like papers are regurgitating old gossip for the sake of it. The latest bit of gossip to resurface in today's papers is that ex-Forest defender Chris Hope, currently at Scunthorpe, is likely to return to Forest during the Summer.

I can't work out why the club are being linked with defenders as we already have enough to field a complete team of defenders without adding any more.

May 26 2000

Bumper Compensation Expected: According to the latest reports the Forest players cheated out of UEFA cup glory in 1984 look set to receive �3 million in compensation. Both FIFA and UEFA are keen to end the long running feud between the Forest players and Belgian club Anderlecht ahead of Euro 2000.

The Forest group, led by Garry Birtles have been fighting for compensation since it was revealed that the referee for the 1984 final had received payment from the then Anderlecht president, Constantine Vanden Stock. But despite stories concerning a bumper pay out, Birtles is remaining is cautious over the news.

He said: "It's news to me. We were spoken to about it the other day and we had no indication over what sort of action would be taken.

"I'd be delighted if it did happen, but I still think it could be highly unlikely.

"For them to pay up that sort of money would be great for us. But I just can't see it happening."

May 25 2000

Woan Rethinking Deal: Ian Woan is rumoured to be rethinking Forest's offer of a new one year contract. The midfielder was offered the new deal on vastly reduced terms after two years of injury problems but initially he refused to sign the contract. It is believed that he has now had a change of heart and is rethinking the deal while on holiday.

The Wirral Squirrel made only a handful of first team appearances over the past two years and his future looked bleak when David Platt told him he could leave - if he could find himself a new club. However, only Chesterfield and Scunthorpe showed any interest in signing him but Woan rejected the chance to join them on loan.

Platt has since had a change of heart himself and decided to offer him a performance-related contract and is now waiting to hear Woan's decision on his future.

May 24 2000

Foxes Favourites For Crossley: Leicester have emerged as favourites to sign Mark Crossley after Derby County denied any plans to sign the 31 year old Welsh international.

May 23 2000

Norm To Make Decision: Rumours are surfacing everywhere this afternoon that Mark Crossley has attended a medical and is now set to sign for a Premiership club. The speculation in the papers and on the radio is that Norm will sign for either Leicester or Derby within the next three days - he's in Wales today as part of the squad to play against Brazil tonight and won't be back in Nottingham until Wednesday evening.

Leicester, Derby and Sheffield Wednesday have all been tracking the keeper for sometime now but very little news has emerged recently. However, it has been confirmed that Norm has had a medical and he himself expects to sign the deal shortly.

Norm commented: "The deal is close to going through and I am back in Nottingham tomorrow so it will be Thursday at the earliest.

"There's going to be competition for places at every Premiership club but I'm quite confident I can progress.

"In fact, I'm surprised how easily it has come along. Only on Sunday afternoon I had a call from another interested club from the First Division. It's all been quite encouraging."

May 21 2000

Johnson Rumours Surface Again: Like the proverbial bad penny, the 'Andy Johnson on his way to Leicester' rumours have resurfaced again today, with several of the Sunday papers and the Internet all linking Johnson with a move to Leicester to rejoin his old boss Martin O'Neill.

May 17 2000

Platt Watches Blake: It's no secret in football that David Platt is on the lookout for a new striker. Bearing this in mind it comes as no surprise that he has now been linked with Blackburn Rover's striker Nathan Blake.

The situation has arisen because Graham Souness has told half a dozen of his current squad that their services are no longer needed at Ewood Park. Though Blackburn and Souness have not named names as yet, Welsh international, Blake, looks to be one of the players on his way out.

Blake cost Blackburn £4.25 million in 1998, but us currently estimated to be worth only a quarter of that.

May 15 2000

Petrachi On His Way: Unsettled Italian, Gianluca Petrachi, is rumoured to be on his way back to Perugia, the club he left to join Forest in a £1.3 million deal at the beginning of the season.

The Italian has failed to settle in this country and David Platt has told him he can leave for the right price. He is being linked with Perugia after the Serie A side avoided relegation yesterday with a 1-0 win over Juventus. Perugia are expected to bolster their squad for next season, and Petrachi has always been a big favourite with the Italian fans.

May 11 2000

Foxes Want Johnson: It was rumoured earlier in the season that Leicester City boss Martin O'Neill was keen to renew his relationship with Andy Johnson by taking him from the City Ground to Filbert Street. At the time Johnson was suffering from an Achilles injury which sidelined him for much of the first part of the season.

However, now the season has ended the Foxes are said to be renewing their interest in the midfielder and are likely to make a move for him during the summer break.

Wednesday Want Crossley: Sheffield Wednesday are the latest club to be linked with a move for Mark Crossley. Crossley was pictured earlier this week leaving the City Ground with his belongings for the last time. He described the experience as "one of the saddest days of my life".

Crossley has also been linked with Leicester, Derby and Wimbledon. There has also been talk in the press of possible moves to Spain and Japan as well.

May 5 2000

Woan Offered New Deal: We are currently picking up on rumours that Ian Woan has been offered a new deal with Forest. The deal is understood to be for one season, though indications are that Woan will have to take a big cut in salary.

Coventry Monitor Crossley: Coventry City are the latest club to be monitoring the Mark Crossley situation. Mark himself has admitted after his testimonial match on Tuesday that he his now 100% certain that he is leaving Forest after 13 years loyal service.

Coventry are set to lose Steve Ogrizovic at the end of the season after 16 years and 600 appearances. Big 'Oggy' is expected to make a final appearance for the Sky Blues this Saturday when they entertain Sheffield Wednesday at Highfield Road, before retiring from the first team and taking a position as goalkeeping coach for the club. Mark Crossley is being looked at as a possible long term replacement for Oggy.

May 4 2000

Matrecano On Comeback Trail: Salvatore Matrecano is expected to take another step along the comeback trail tonight as Forest's reserves take on West Ham. The Italian has been pencilled in to play in the penultimate game of the FA premier Reserve League clash. He made his return to action at reserve level last week after a six-month layoff with a knee ligament injury. If he comes through tonight's game unscathed, he could figure in David Platt's plans for Sunday's final game of the season at Stockport.

May 2 2000

Rogers Is Not Off To Rovers: Alan Rogers is NOT off to Blackburn Rovers next season, says Graham Souness. This is the official line coming from Ewood Park after Souness chose to watch Forest's game at the City Ground on Saturday in preference to watching his own side lose 2-1 to Crystal Palace. Though there has been no explanation of why the manager chose to watch Forest instead of his own side.