Nottinghamshire

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In the final part of our special Nottingham Forest Q&A, our reporter Nick Mashiter focuses on the City Ground's redevelopment plans and why the upgrade is being held up.

Craig asked: When will Forest start work on the main stand at the City Ground? It was originally starting summer 2026 but since the new stand proposal to make it the highest in league, there's a delay; I guess due to health and safety traffic issues. When will building work commence?

Nick: Forest had been hoping to start work on the redevelopment of the Peter Taylor Stand — which will increase the City Ground's capacity from 30,500 to 45,000 - this summer.

There is support from local residents - Rushcliffe Borough Council published new neighbour responses on their planning portal on Monday.

But Forest still need the Council to rubber stamp the proposals, with a deadline to submit any more documents for consideration set for 31 July.

The planning committee is due to meet on 16 September - with Forest agreeing to a budget of £63,000 for the Council's costs over the summer as the application is assessed.

So that all means we will not see work start this summer and by the time there is progress the season will have started, so that complicates matters further.

You're right when talking about traffic issues and Forest still need to trial their traffic management plans, especially when we are looking at an extra 14,500 fans coming to matches.

The project could be approved in the next few months but the reality means it might be delayed until next summer.

Scroll down this page to find three more posts containing answers from Nick.

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In the third part of a special Q&A, our Nottingham Forest reporter Nick Mashiter focuses on who can fill Elliot Anderson's shoes should the midfielder depart in the summer.

Simon asked: Let's assume Elliot Anderson is off (with our thanks and best wishes) and we have £120m in the bank. Who replaces him? Do we need to bring in someone or do you think James McAtee can step up?

Nick: Forest will look to replace him and they will strengthen the squad overall this summer, although it won't be the same as last summer's £180m, 13 player, spree.

Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall is on Forest's list, along with Davide Frattesi of Inter Milan, as they prepare for Elliot Anderson's expected exit.

James McAtee had a difficult season, with just two Premier League starts, but he is highly thought of by the coaching staff. He has been doing extra work this summer and will come back for pre-season in peak condition.

It was felt, given the nature of the season with Europe, a relegation battle and four managers, there was little chance to ease him in and therefore there was always more pressure on him to impress in snatched moments - especially in the league.

It didn't allow him to settle or find his rhythm.

Of course he is a different player in a different position but, if and when Elliot Anderson leaves, Forest still have a young English talent to harness.

Come back to this page for part four of the Q&A. And remember, this is your Nottingham Forest page so bookmark it and come back for analysis, news, stats and fan views.

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In the second part of a special Q&A, our Nottingham Forest reporter Nick Mashiter focuses on potential summer departures and when to expect arrivals.

Dave asked: Forest have a great squad on paper but most of last season's new signings struggled to get going and break into the first team as a regular. Who do you think will make this transition this season? Or do you think Forest should sell those players?

Nick: Dan Ndoye, Dilane Bakwa and James McAtee can probably all have similar complaints in terms of game time and the impact they made.

Bakwa made six Premier League starts, Ndoye 14 and McAtee two but with the constant change of managers and tactics some concessions have to be made. More will be expected from all of them this season though.

Arnaud Kalimuendo is likely to leave and could return to Eintracht Frankfurt, after spending the second half of last season on loan there.

We started to see more glimpses of Omari Hutchinson's talent towards the end of the season but there needs to be more end product from the record signing after just one goal in 41 appearances.

Should they sell some? Realistically the club may do well do recoup the money they spent last season so financially I'm not sure it makes sense and the market is not going to be there - the level of clubs who may be interested won't be able spend what Forest would demand.

• See Forest's full 2026-27 Premier League fixture list

Ken asked: The idea was that Forest would get their transfer business done early. How early? Are Forest recruitment representatives at The World Cup?

Nick: Vitor Pereira wanted to get things done early to ensure he had the bulk of his squad to work with over pre-season.

"Let's prepare ourselves to be ready from the beginning. If not, you start losing before you start the season," he said after the final game against Bournemouth last month.

He was unhappy with the slow nature of Wolves' business last summer, so much so he regretted signing a new deal to stay at Molineux.

So he is keen to avoid that situation again but it's easier said than done. There are so many variables: agents, negotiations, rival bids, the considerations of players - whether they should move their families.

The World Cup, of course, is the biggest factor in the window. As much as clubs want to do fast business, the tournament will slow things down. The game also needs the trickle down effect, the bigger moves will start the dominoes falling for other transfers.

Keep across this page for parts three and four of Nick's Q&A, which will look at subjects including who replaces Elliot Anderson and the City Ground redevelopment plans.

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We asked you to send in your Nottingham Forest questions for our reporter Nick Mashiter.

In the first part of a special Q&A, he focuses on manager's Vitor Pereira's future at the City Ground and why the club need a quiet season in the dugout.

Neil asked: Should Forest fans already be feeling a little uneasy about the uncertainty around the lack of contract stability with the current manager?

Nick: I understand if supporters may feel a little nervous over Pereira's contract situation - especially after the revolving door of managers last season - but there is no need.

Both Pereira and the club are relaxed about the situation and he still has a year left on his current deal. It is recognised that pausing talks - which had been quite far advanced - is a risk for Pereira if Forest do not start well but all parties remained committed. As it stands, all being well, it should be sorted towards the end of the year.

• Explore all Forest content on BBC Sounds

David asked: With Vitor not being given a new contract, are we likely to see another manager in the next few weeks? Somebody like Marco Silva, who worked previously for Evangelos Marinakis?

Nick: I wouldn't read into it too much as there are reasons and all parties remain relaxed about it. Of course it leaves the situation open to speculation, but we should see some progress towards the end of the year.

After last season, and what felt like constant turnover of managers, supporters can be forgiven for wondering if Forest will make more changes but there is a real desire to see this one stick.

It's boring, and the owner and Vitor Pereira would demand more, but Forest could do with a season of anonymity to settle and lay some solid foundations again.

Since being promoted it has been pretty tumultuous - five managers, battling relegation, challenging for Champions League qualification and back to a relegation scrap, all while juggling European commitments.

Please don't misunderstand me - fans will never regret the Europa League trips and run to the semis with Forest back in Europe was special - but to have a quiet season may lay the groundwork for more consistent success.

Keep across this page for parts two, three and four of Nick's Q&A, which will look at subjects including summer transfer plans, whether James McAtee will step up next season and why the stadium redevelopment is taking so long.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

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Nottingham Forest are thought to want a record fee for a British player if they are to sell Elliot Anderson, and you can see why after the midfielder's eye-catching performance in England's opening World Cup victory over Croatia.

Anderson played the full 90 minutes and made the great Luka Modric look all of his 40 years of age, providing a superb assist for Jude Bellingham's all-important second-half goal.

The 23-year-old's job and importance to England's midfield is clear - since Thomas Tuchel took charge in January 2025, Anderson has won possession 78 times, that's 51 more than Declan Rice who is next on that list.

Manchester City's second offer worth £120m has already been rejected by Forest and Anderson may have added another £10m to his value following his highly impressive first appearance at a major international tournament.

Read more on the World Cup players who could be on the move here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

It's the ultimate shop window: a World Cup with 48 teams - all packed with players eager to show what they can do on the biggest stage.

With the transfer window now open, BBC Sport journalists have been taking a look at some of the key names being discussed.

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Nottingham Forest do not plan another near-£200m spending spree like last season but are looking to add.

Elliot Anderson's expected move to Manchester City means a midfielder will be a priority and boss Vitor Pereira wants to do business early - learning from his frustrations at the slow speed of Wolves' deals when he was at Molineux last summer.

Forest previously looked at Uruguay's World Cup defender Mathias Olivera, having bids rejected by Napoli earlier in the year.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Elliot Anderson was the schoolboy footballer so good his teachers discussed placing a bet on him playing for England. The bet was never made - but Thomas Tuchel is backing him to be a winner at the World Cup.

Anderson's journey from the playing fields of Tyneside to the World Cup stage, and to potentially becoming the most expensive player in British football history, continues when England play Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.

The midfielder is the one that painfully got away from Newcastle United but is still revered and respected in his home city as the "quiet and self-effacing" local boy made good.

Anderson's first steps in football came playing with his two elder brothers Louie and Wil, the latter gaining prominence as a contestant on reality TV show Love Island.

Jonathan Roys, Anderson's former English and PE teacher at Valley Gardens, who was also his head of year, told BBC Sport: "His brothers had been through the school and I played against his dad. His brothers were decent, but I think being the youngest of three he was used to getting bossed about a little bit, but he took no quarter off anybody. He'd get stuck right in."

Anderson put down a marker for future success when he was captain and scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win when Valley Gardens won the English leg of Danone Nations Cup in 2014, a prestigious worldwide youth tournament.

His parents, Iain and Helen, ensured studying was never sidelined, with lessons organised around time at Newcastle United's academy, his beloved club he was always destined to join.

"Elliot was quiet, self-effacing lad at school," says Roys. "He came from a great family. They made sure we organised his lessons around time he spent at Newcastle's academy.

"As head of year you can sometimes deal with kids who might be causing problems but he was never any trouble. He just got on with it. Reports were usually glowing, both from school and Newcastle's academy."

Read more about Anderson's journey here

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

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Some of you have been using our Newcastle Ask Me Anything form to query if there's a sell-on clause for Elliot Anderson, after Manchester City made firm bids for the ex-Newcastle midfielder, now at Nottingham Forest.

As far as I'm aware Newcastle would not stand to benefit financially if Anderson left Nottingham Forest.

The club do not have a buy-back option, either.

Ordinarily these clauses would be negotiated during the sale of promising young players, as sides like Manchester City and Chelsea have over the years.

But Newcastle had no bargaining position whatsoever when they sold Anderson to Nottingham Forest in 2024.

The club were desperately attempting to raise funds to avoid a breach of profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and a likely points deduction.

Anderson's subsequent journey to becoming an England starter has been bittersweet for Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe.

Although Anderson has felt the clear benefit of increased game time at Nottingham Forest, Newcastle's backroom staff always believed he was destined for the very top and hoped he could realise his vast potential while playing for his boyhood club.

The midfielder still has huge admirers at all levels at St James' Park, including sporting director Ross Wilson, who helped bring him to Nottingham Forest during his time at the City Ground.

But Anderson appears destined to move elsewhere rather than return to Tyneside.

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