City Ground deal 'could take months longer'

NEW PLANS FOR STADIUM MUST BE GRANTED FIRST, SAYS CLUB

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

NEW plans for the expansion of the City Ground are set to be revealed in weeks as the wait continues for Nottingham Forest to buy the stadium's freehold.

The Post understands the new plans, to be revealed in mid-December, will entail a further expansion of the Reds’ stadium beyond that approved in June.

It is also understood that Forest will not formally complete its agreement to buy the City Ground’s freehold from Nottingham City Council until permission for the new plans is granted, meaning it could still be months before the deal concludes.

The potential wait for the deal wit the council to conclude comes despite its leader warning

that the authority could not hold its offer to Forest “forever”

Councillor Neghat Khan said: “Markets change, prices go up, so if Forest want it at that price, they've got to come to the table fairly soon”

Forest was already given permission for a stadium expansion of around 5,000 seats by Rushcliffe Borough Council in June, entailing the demolition and rebuild of the Peter Taylor Stand.