Nottingham Forest Move Toward Champions League Spot as Owner Steps Back

Lawrence OtienoInternational Highlights4 hours ago

Evangelos Marinakis cannot own Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos if they are in the same competition Credit: Getty Images/Michael Regan

Nottingham Forest are on track to secure Champions League qualification, with owner Evangelos Marinakis stepping back to comply with UEFA rules. The club has restructured its board and taken legal steps to ensure eligibility despite shared ownership ties with Olympiacos.

Nottingham Forest are taking confident strides both on and off the pitch as they aim for a historic return to the UEFA Champions League. With a potential top-three Premier League finish within reach, the club has also taken decisive action behind the scenes to meet UEFA’s strict ownership regulations.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis — who also owns Greek powerhouse Olympiacos — has temporarily stepped away from active involvement with the English club to comply with UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules. Both teams are on course to qualify for the 2025–26 Champions League, a scenario that UEFA typically prohibits unless one club is placed in a blind trust to avoid conflicts of interest.

To satisfy these requirements, Forest have initiated a significant boardroom reshuffle. Documents filed with Companies House on Wednesday show that long-time Marinakis associate Sokratis Kominakis, who left the board last year, has been reappointed as a director. In addition, three legal professionals — Matthew Cain, Tim Osborne, and Matthew Shayle — have joined the board. All are partners at Wiggin Osborne Fullerlove, a law firm specializing in bespoke legal services for high-net-worth individuals.

Osborne, in particular, is expected to play a key role, given his seniority within the firm. The restructuring suggests that Forest are preparing to place the club’s control in a blind trust, satisfying UEFA’s requirements while maintaining strategic continuity.

Meanwhile, Forest’s ambitions on the field remain alive. A win over Brentford on Thursday could see them rise to third in the Premier League table. With UEFA granting Champions League qualification to the league’s top five this season, Forest are closer than ever to reclaiming their place among Europe’s elite.

While questions remain about the long-term structure, the immediate picture is clear: Forest are planning ahead, both legally and competitively, for a place in next season’s Champions League.