Yahoo News Nuno makes 'important' point as Nottingham Forest boss responds to season ticket price hikes
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has appealed for Nottingham Forest fans to continue to get behind the team, despite their frustrations over season card price increases.
The Portuguese is keen for a sense of unity to prevail as the Reds fight for Premier League survival. They sit just one point above the bottom three ahead of Sunday’s clash with relegation rivals Everton.
However, the build-up to the match at Goodison Park has almost been overshadowed by this week’s announcement of season card prices for 2024/25. Prices have been increased by an average of 24 percent, while supporters have been angered by some of the messaging from the club regarding the decision.
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Asked if he can understand fans’ frustrations, Nuno said: “I understand why (they are frustrated), but I don’t know the reasons (behind the club’s decision). What I ask them is please help us by keeping on supporting us.
“I understand the question but I am going to be honest with you, who am I to judge the decisions of the club? I am not aware, and when I’m not aware of why the decision has been made I cannot comment because I do not know enough.
“What I know for sure is how important our fans are. I said from the first day I arrived that it’s very special the relationship we have with our fans.
“We need them. It is going to be important for it to stay that way - away from home, at home - so we can count on their support.”
Forest made no mention of the threat of relegation in their season card announcement. The prices will be the same whether the Reds are in the top-flight or the Championship.
The club followed the season card announcement with one about plans to introduce sections of safe standing at the City Ground. That was accused of being a “deflection strategy” amid the flak Forest were receiving.
Likewise, late-night social media posts from the Reds’ official account angered many fans. Forest pointed out they had broken their season card renewals record in “just seven hours” with renewals said to be up 50 percent compared to the same point last year. They also wrote: “Now over 11,000 fans signed up to our Official Season Card Waiting List since launch. An incredible demonstration of the huge demand to follow Forest. Thank you.”
Intentional or not, those posts could be viewed as pitting supporters against each other. The club were accused of being “tone-deaf”, with many of the replies instructing them to “read the room”.
The announcement came with Forest’s top-flight fate still hanging in the balance and ahead of a crucial match. Nuno admitted the timing was not the best.
“It’s never good,” he said. “The bond between the club and the fans is the most important thing in football because we play for the fans.
“When I don’t know things, sometimes I shut up – it’s better to be silent. But what I know is the fans are really important and special for the boys. When they are on the pitch they can count on their support and their noise.
“Let’s try to keep it this way, because we need them. We need them until the end. It is going to be a big fight until the end.”
