REPLAY: Nottingham Forest and Notts County takeovers latest

Nottingham Forest and Notts County are both close to being taken over by new owners – with crucial updates expected from both bids today.

Forest are subject to a takeover led by American millionaire and baseball tycoon John Jay Moores, while County are in the final hours of negotiations between businessman Alan Hardy and current owner Ray Trew.

Follow all of Wednesday’s news on the bids here, with Mathias Balslev, Jake Brigstock and Chris Breese.


17:15 And that’s us for the evening – we hope you have a good one and we will be back soon! Thank you for staying with us!

17:05 Alan Hardy has confirmed that the deal includes Notts County Ladies.

16:40 To recap the big story of the day – Alan Hardy announced on Twitter earlier today that the Notts County takeover has been completed. Still no official word from the Magpies yet but they did Retweet what Mr Hardy confirmed.

Alan Hardy announces his takeover of Notts County is complete

16:38 Looks like the day is meandering along to a steady close now… Not even a hint of any Forest takeover news happening today.

16:20 …whereas the Post have reported that talks have been held between the new owner Alan Hardy and former Bury manager David Flitcroft. The Post say the two met on Sunday.

16:19 Couple of developments about the Notts County manager vacancy – the betting odds have changed! Kevin Nolan is now odds on favourite for the Magpies’ job whereas Mark Robins has been put back to evens…

16:12 Nice heart-warming story on this chilly day – among the kind gestures from his local community, Alan Thompson, 62, from Sneinton, who has a terminal brain tumour and is a lifelong Forest fan, has been offered free tickets by the Reds for their home game against Huddersfield on April 8 after they heard about his condition!

Nottingham brain tumour sufferer touched by kindness of community

16:00 Jake Brigstock is back! Still quiet on all fronts at the moment except for Mark Robins being five to one on to be the next Magpies’ manager.

15.30 Any excuse to see this again. Here’s one.


15.21 The same tool shows a big surge over the last 24 hours in interest in the idea of Mark Robins becoming Notts County’s new manager. He was installed as the bookmaker’s favourite on Monday.

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15:10 Google Trends shows the tail off in chatter linked to the Forest takeover today. Searches peaked just before lunchtime but the dearth of updates has seen a slide since.

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14:50 Notts TV’s Sport Presenter Owen Shipton: “It’s a relief for county fans to see the deal go through but equally it’s frustrating for Forest fans now to be kept waiting. There’s no guarantee the Reds deal will get done today but Moores travelling here indicates he’s tying up any lose ends.”

More from him later.

14:45 Meanwhile the amount of news on the Forest takeover can be summarised as follows;

14:41 In a nice touch, Aileen Trew, former chief exec, has tweeted her support to Hardy’s new regime, saying she wishes them the best of luck.

14:30 While the celebrations are under way for County fans its worth mentioning we’re still awaiting details of the club’s unpaid tax bill, which Hardy is expected to settle and lift a transfer embargo on the club.

14:20 And on that note, it’s Jake Brigstock over and out for now – I’ll be handing over the reigns to Notts TV’s pint-sized Chris Breese for the next hour or so. Until then!

14:19 The Southbank Bar in West Bridgford have said they will host a 90 minute happy hour upon the news of the Forest takeover – and have even asked Joe Worrall if he can nip down for a crafty pint!

14:12 And a response from the man himself!

14:10 Message from those on Team Talk tonight for the new Notts owner! You’ll be able to see more from them at 8pm tonight on Notts TV!

13:45 After that hectic hour or so, it has all gone a bit quiet I must say… Notts fans are continuing to send their good luck messages to the club’s new owner.

13:27 Looks like Alan Hardy could be in for a baptism of fire as the club’s new owner with Notts taking on the Stags at Meadow Lane this weekend…

13:22 Some more Nottingham Forest news emerging from Paul Taylor at the Post – reports are saying that John Jay Moores has already targeted Gary Rowett to be the new Forest head coach…

13:20 Notts fans have already been wishing Alan Hardy luck for the future as a new era at Meadow Lane begins…

13:17 In Nottingham Forest news, Nottingham Post’s Paul Taylor says that the American Consortium set to take over the Reds are looking at appointing Gary Rowett as manager when the deal is complete.

13:12 Here’s the full story of the completed Notts takeover – one down, one to go!

Alan Hardy announces his takeover of Notts County is complete

12:58 Before all that though, Magpie fans can expect an announcement of the club’s new manager tomorrow, says the new owner.

12:56 Hello all, what a time to be coming in! We’ve got the full story of the County takeover coming in the next few minutes along with some Forest news. Stay here for all the latest!

12:55 Jake Brigstock will take over from Mathias Balslev for the next hour or so…

12:31 DONE DEAL! Alan Hardy says he has completed the move and has now taken over Notts County! More to follow shortly…

12:29 Alan Hardy has changed his Twitter bio to Chairman and Owner of Notts County…

12:11 No news yet from Alan Hardy or Notts County…

12:08 According to Paul Taylor from the Nottingham Post, Philippe Montanier may not be the only one leaving Forest if a takeover is completed with captain Henri Lansbury rumored to have played his last game for the club.

11:47 The Sun are reporting that if John Jay Moores completes the takeover of Nottingham Forest, current manager Philippe Montanier could be replaced by former Burton and Birmingham manager Gary Rowett.

11:31 Over at Meadow Lane, Notts County were all set to be snapped up by Alan Hardy. Contracts had been exchanged and the deal was supposed to be done on Monday. But a loan has held things up.

Hardy has said ‘definitive news’ will be available on his bid at noon today.

11:29 Lets start though by outlining where we are with both clubs. Forest are subject to a takeover worth around £50 million, headed by American businessman John Jay Moores. He has told reporters in the states the deal is ‘close’ and flew into the UK overnight with the intention of finishing a move which would see him take an 80 per cent stake in the club. Fawaz Al-Hasawi would maintain an interest worth the remaining 20 per cent.

Barry Bloom, a US sport journalist, has been the closest thing we have to an authority on ‘JJM’s’ movements.

11:26 It’s a day that could make or break hearts, minds and seasons. A day that could see the sun rise or set on….

….or we could all be left in a vaccum, if yesterday is anything to go by.