Nottingham Forest have delivered a stunning statement of intent just days before the Premier League season kicks off unveiling a historic fan ownership scheme that hands power back to the City Ground faithful as the club prepares for another top-flight campaign under Oliver Glasner.
The announcement comes with just days to go until Forest’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth at the City Ground, with excitement building across Nottinghamshire.
The club announced “The Trentside Share” a groundbreaking initiative granting supporters binding voting rights on key club decisions, effective immediately.
The announcement makes Forest the first Premier League club to voluntarily cede decision-making power to its fanbase a bold statement of ambition as the club continues its remarkable resurgence under the ownership of Evangelos Marinakis.
WHAT THE SCHEME MEANS FOR SUPPORTERS
Under the new initiative, which takes immediate effect:
· A Fan Advisory Board of three elected supporters will attend quarterly board meetings and hold binding votes on non-football operational matters, including:
· Ticket pricing structures for domestic and cup fixtures
· Final approval of annual kit designs
· Community investment and charity partnerships
· A £2 million ring-fenced fund, drawn from the club’s commercial revenue, will be placed under fan-led management to finance community projects across Nottinghamshire.
The scheme will be formally ratified during Forest’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth at the City Ground, where a giant screen message will address the Reds faithful.
OLIVER GLASNER: ‘A NEW DAWN’
An excited Oliver Glasner, speaking just days before the Premier League season begins, described the announcement as the perfect way to start his tenure.
“This is a new dawn for Nottingham Forest,” Glasner said.
“We’re just days away from the start of the Premier League season, and today we’re taking this huge step forward. Our fans are the heartbeat of this club, and giving them a genuine voice in how we move forward is exactly what this great club deserves. This is just the beginning.”
Glasner, who took charge of Forest earlier this summer, is understood to have been fully behind the proposal from the moment it was presented to him.
“I’ve been here long enough to know what this club means to people,” Glasner added.
“This isn’t just about one season. This is about building something that will last. And having the fans alongside us, with a real seat at the table, makes that vision even stronger.”
CHAIRMAN: ‘FANS AT THE HEART OF OUR FUTURE’
Chairman Evangelos Marinakis framed the decision as a defining moment for the club’s future.
“This is a historic day for Nottingham Forest,” Marinakis said.
“We have always believed that our fans are what make this club special. Today, we give them a formal role in shaping our future not as spectators, but as partners. This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter.”
Marinakis, who has overseen Forest’s transformation from Championship strugglers to established Premier League side, has consistently emphasised the importance of fan engagement throughout his ownership.
FAN REACTION: ‘THIS IS OUR CLUB’
Within minutes of the official statement, the hashtag #TrentsideShare exploded across Nottingham and among Forest’s global supporter base.
Dave Cooper, 61, a lifelong season-ticket holder from West Bridgford, told our reporter outside the City Ground:
“I’ve been coming here for over 40 years. I’ve seen the highs, the lows, the European glory days, the fall to League One, the climb back. This? This is different. This is the club saying: ‘We belong to you.’ And with the new season just days away, I can’t wait to walk into the City Ground on Saturday.”
Rachel Green, 34, from The Meadows, who travels to every home game with her father, said:
“This is exactly the kind of bold thinking we need. A new manager, new energy, and now the fans are part of it too. I can’t wait for the season to start. What a time to be a Red!”
Former Forest striker Stan Collymore posted on social media:
“A brilliant move from the club just days before the new season. The fans are what make Forest special and giving them a voice is the right thing to do. With a new manager at the helm, exciting times ahead.”
The Nottingham Forest Supporters Trust called the move “a landmark moment for the club,” with chair Catherine Smith adding:
“This is exactly the kind of progressive thinking we want to see. The Trentside Share is a genuine step forward and a sign that the club truly values its supporters.”
A spokesperson for the Football Supporters Association added.
“Forest have set a marker here. This is a positive step for fan engagement in English football, and we hope other clubs will follow their lead.”
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE SEASON AHEAD
With just days to go until the Premier League campaign begins, excitement is building at the City Ground.
Forest are targeting a top-half finish and potentially European qualification, with Glasner’s side looking to build on last season’s impressive campaign.
“We’re ready,” Glasner said.
“The energy around this club right now is incredible. We’ve got a great squad, a clear vision, and now the fans are right there with us not just in the stands, but in the decision-making too. This is a special time to be a Forest supporter.”
One fan, Mark Spencer, 47, from Clifton, summed up the mood.
“A new manager, a new season, a strong squad, and now the fans have a real say. What more could we ask for? I can’t wait to walk into the City Ground on Saturday. This is going to be a season to remember.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The club has confirmed that a full governance document outlining the scheme’s legal framework, voting thresholds, and election procedures will be published within 14 days.
For now, all eyes turn to the first match of the season where Forest play with a renewed sense of purpose, a new manager at the helm, an owner who has delivered on his promises, and a fanbase empowered like never before.
One thing is clear: a new era has begun at Nottingham Forest.
