Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has officially stepped back from active control of the Premier League club amid mounting concerns over UEFA’s regulations on multi-club ownership. Marinakis, who also owns Greek giants Olympiakos, has placed his Nottingham Forest shares into a blind trust in a strategic move aimed at complying with UEFA’s rules that prohibit clubs with the same owner from competing in the same European competitions.
Olympiakos have already secured a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League after a strong domestic campaign, while Nottingham Forest sit sixth in the Premier League, on the cusp of their first European qualification since 1996. Should Forest finish within the top five, they could join Olympiakos in Europe—an outcome UEFA’s conflict-of-interest rules are designed to regulate. The adjustment by Marinakis mirrors similar decisions made by other multi-club owners, including Manchester United’s INEOS group and the City Football Group, which controls Manchester City and Girona.
Documents filed with Companies House confirm that Marinakis is no longer a “person with significant control” of Forest’s parent company, NF Football Investments Limited. While he has relinquished direct authority, reports suggest he remains “fully committed” to the club and its future development.
Nottingham Forest’s European Dreams Back on Track Despite FA Cup Setback
Despite dropping to sixth place in the league table following wins by Manchester City, Newcastle, and Chelsea, Nottingham Forest still control their destiny in the race for European qualification. With a game in hand, Forest could climb back into third place with a win over Brentford on Thursday.
Their recent FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester City was a bitter pill, but manager Nuno Espirito Santo is confident in his squad’s resilience and believes the setback can be a catalyst for renewed motivation. “It’s always harder to work after a disappointing moment,” Nuno told club media. “But when you have setbacks, there’s one law in life—you fall down, you grieve, and you get up and go.”
Nuno emphasized that the team is now entirely focused on the upcoming fixture against Brentford. He praised the opposition’s manager Thomas Frank but insisted Nottingham Forest must take responsibility at the City Ground to bounce back and keep their European hopes alive.
Building for Europe: Marinakis’ Vision Moves Ahead Despite Step Back
While Marinakis’ withdrawal from direct control may appear sudden, sources suggest the move was carefully calculated and aligns with long-term plans to transform Nottingham Forest into a regular contender in Europe. The club has already undergone several structural and sporting changes to prepare for the demands of continental football.
Marinakis has invested heavily in Nottingham Forest’s squad, infrastructure, and support staff since gaining promotion to the Premier League. Now, even from a legal distance, his influence remains as the club looks to sustain momentum and capitalize on their best domestic season in decades.
Placing the shares into a blind trust effectively removes him from any direct decision-making role in the eyes of UEFA, a necessary legal maneuver that enables both Forest and Olympiakos to coexist on the European stage without facing sanctions or disqualification.
Nuno Urges Focus: “A Chance to Be Something Magical”
As Nottingham Forest prepare for the decisive stretch of their season, Nuno Espirito Santo has called on his players to elevate their professionalism and ambition. Emphasizing the symbolic power of playing at the City Ground, Nuno challenged his team to turn adversity into strength and focus on the club’s larger ambitions.
“Thomas Frank is an outstanding manager. Brentford are strong defensively, good at set-pieces, and they play good football,” Nuno noted. “But we have the City Ground and the responsibility to deliver, to perform well, and to compete.”
The manager added that the key to success lies in discipline and drive: “Avoid mistakes and provoke mistakes from the opposition. This is our chance to be what you should be on the football pitch—professionals that want to achieve bigger things, huge and magical things. This thought has to lift us up.”
Forest Fans Daring to Dream Once More
For Nottingham Forest supporters, the 2024–25 season holds the promise of a long-awaited return to the European spotlight. With their club now firmly in contention for a Champions League berth and administrative hurdles being addressed, optimism is spreading through the red half of Nottingham Forest.
The last time nottiinForest played in Europe, they reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1996. A return to such heights would be a landmark achievement for a club steeped in continental glory from their back-to-back European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980. The fans, ever passionate, are beginning to believe that the dream of reviving that legacy could soon become reality—regardless of who’s pulling the strings behind the scenes.
As the final games of the season loom, all eyes will be on Forest—and whether this resilient squad can push through the pressure and reclaim a seat at Europe’s top table.
