Nottingham Post

Nottingham Forest are scrapping with West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur as they bid to retain their Premier League status

Harry Redknapp would rather Nottingham Forest were relegated from the Premier League than either of his former clubs Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United.

The Reds, who suffered an agonising 1-0 loss at home to Liverpool on Sunday, are just two points ahead of the Hammers and the final relegation spot, and two behind Spurs.

Tottenham were battered 4-1 by Arsenal in Igor Tudor’s first match in charge and there is a further two point gap to 15th placed Leeds United who keep picking up results.

That leaves the 78-year-old fearing the worst for one of his ex-employers and regretting that Forest could lose their top flight status.

Speaking to Sky Sports News he was asked about Tudor’s appointment and the situation at the bottom of the table.

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“They made a bold move but what can he do? The team at the moment, he's only there at the end of the season. He's only holding the fort until they go and get somebody else in full-time.

“But it's a great job for somebody for next year, if they go down they’ll come back up next year, but I don't see [it]. I think they'll be alright.

“But then I've got a foot in both camps, West Ham, I want them to stay up as well, so I'm hoping that both teams stay up, then that leaves Notts [Nottingham] Forest, who are a great club.

“One of the three of them are going to go, I can't see anybody else. Probably Burnley will go they're trying but I think they're going to go with Wolves. Wolves have gone for sure.

“Then it's a toss-up between Forest, West Ham and Spurs, and Spurs are as much in it as the other two. It's going to be tight.”

Redknapp admits he would have liked to have stepped in after Thomas Frank’s departure.

“For sure I would have done, I would definitely have had a go. I would have loved it.

“A lot of the ex-players were coming out saying they should have got me back in, I would have loved it.

“They've brought somebody in but nobody knew him. I mean he's had lots of jobs and sort of been around the block a bit but never managed in England, the guy Tudor.

“So it's a, it's a big gamble, but listen, you can't blame him for yesterday, that's been how the results have been for months, haven't they? It's shocking really.”

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Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is the driving force behind the team, Morgan Gibbs-White said after signing his new contract with the club.

In a bombshell announcement on Saturday evening, Gibbs-White committed his future to the City Ground with a new three-year deal.

It ends the saga around the attacking midfielder who had been the subject of interest from Tottenham, Thomas Frank’s side meeting the £60m release clause in Gibbs-White’s previous deal in what Forest felt was an illegal approach.

The 25-year-old will now lead the club into their first European campaign in 30 years. It’s been a sharp rise for the Reds over the past few years, and Gibbs-White credited Marinakis for the drive he inspired within the squad.

“I’m delighted,” Gibbs-White told the club. “So thank you to Mr Marinakis for believing in me.

“I feel like we’ve been on a rollercoaster of a journey, but I felt the love instantly from the very first moment I stepped through the doors.

“We’ve had difficult times but we’ve had a lot of highs. Last year was really exciting. We got to showcase what we’re about and what we’re trying to build as a team. Mr Marinakis is the base of that.

“Mr Marinakis is the main reason for that (ambition). We’ve built that culture inside the dressing room. I feel like that’s driven us all the way through.

“The manager’s been incredible since he’s come in. The fans have been amazing from the very first moment I joined.

“To give them back European football, it’s something as a dressing room, as a team, as a club, we’re all really proud about.

“They’re the ones who deserve it the most because they’re the ones who pay their hard-earned money to show up at the weekends, come and watch us play, support us and cheer us.

“They’re the ones who deserve it the most and we’re happy we’re able to give back to them.”

There’s now just over a month until Forest discover the eight clubs they will be facing in Europe. The draw for the Europa League group phase takes place on Friday, August 29.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis appeared to fire back at Tottenham Hotspur over "appropriate actions” after Morgan Gibbs-White signed a new three-deal with the club.

Spurs met the £60m release clause in Gibbs-White’s previous contract earlier this month in what Forest felt was an illegal approach.

After Gibbs-White committed to the City Ground with a new deal on Saturday evening, Marinakis had some choice words, seemingly directed at Tottenham.

He told the club: “We’re very happy about it (Gibbs-White’s deal). We share the same dreams and ambitions.

“He’s a talented player who loves Nottingham Forest. He became a legend already.

“We needed to give a message to our supporters and of course to supporters of all the other teams in England, in Europe, that with legends, you need to treat them in an appropriate manner.

“As long as I’m in charge of Nottingham Forest, these actions, approaches, should take place in an appropriate manner.

“I would never let anybody from any other team try to get a player from us or make something that we don’t agree with. Especially with some guys that belong to our family.

“Therefore, with Morgan, it didn’t take long to come to an agreement. It was a very short conversation, full of passion and love for the club.

“When you have passion and love for something, it’s a matter of a few seconds to agree. All our supporters should know that this guy loves the club.”

Forest had already lost one of their star attackers in Anthony Elanga and faced losing another when Spurs, under new manager Thomas Frank, moved for Gibbs-White.

But the saga, during which Forest considered legal action against Spurs, now looks to be over, with Gibbs-White to lead the club into the new season and into their European campaign.