Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis will continue his active involvement with the club despite transferring his ownership shares to a blind trust, a move designed to comply with UEFA regulations as Forest aims for European competition qualification. The Greek billionaire, who also owns Olympiakos, handed over his shares to trustees Matthew Shayle, Matthew Cain, and Timothy Osborne but retains influence in a personal capacity.
UEFA Compliance and Club Operations
The restructuring aligns with UEFA’s rules on multi-club ownership, ensuring that Marinakis can maintain his role without breaching regulations. Despite the share transfer, he faces no UEFA restrictions on stadium access or team interaction. Nottingham Forest CEO Lina Souloukou, previously with Olympiakos, handles daily operations, and 20% shareholder Sokratis Kominakis has rejoined the board, reinforcing the club’s leadership structure.
Recent Controversies and Club Support
Marinakis recently drew criticism for confronting manager Nuno Espírito Santo on the pitch following a 2-2 draw with Leicester City, expressing frustration over the handling of striker Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury. Awoniyi was taken to the hospital for urgent abdominal surgery after playing through apparent discomfort. The club later clarified that there was no confrontation between Marinakis and Espírito Santo, emphasizing Marinakis’ emotional reaction was due to concern over Awoniyi’s serious injury.
Forest’s European Ambitions
The draw against Leicester secured Forest’s return to European competition after 29 years, with the club currently sitting seventh in the Premier League, just one point behind Chelsea for the final Champions League spot. With two matches remaining against West Ham and Chelsea, Forest’s European qualification hopes remain alive.
Conclusion
Evangelos Marinakis’s continued hands-on approach, despite the ownership restructuring, underscores his commitment to Nottingham Forest’s success. As the club navigates the final stages of the Premier League season with European aspirations, Marinakis’s involvement and the club’s leadership structure aim to provide stability and drive continued progress.
