Nottinghamshire

Ella Gibbs
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Coventry City at the City Ground (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Nikola Milenkovic will miss the game, while fellow defender Jair Cunha trained on Thursday and "looks OK", though Glasner added that it was a "very light session".

• Glasner described planning approval for the development of the City Ground as "great news for the club, the city and the supporters".

• Asked if he expected to still be at the club when the works are complete, he said: "I never think about leaving. You don't start a relationship and think about when you can leave. It makes no sense. I'm always thinking mid- and long-term. If somebody asks me how I see things, I always try to look a little bit outside of football."

• On last weekend's win at Aston Villa: "It was good out of possession but it was maximum OK in possession and I would say below average in possession in the first half. Of course, when you win and when you show a good performance it helps in getting more and more belief, getting more and more confidence."

• On Morgan Gibbs-White and whether he should receive an England call-up having missed out on the World Cup squad: "I think he showed maximum effort, commitment and good performances. It's Thomas Tuchel's decision."

• Glasner said he spent some time with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis: "Sometimes you are emotional during a game, this is what I talked about to him, because he's also quite emotional. I don't talk to the players after the game. It makes no sense - because then maybe you regret it the following day."

• The Austrian said Saturday's opponents Coventry, who are yet to register a point or score a goal in the league, will pose "the same challenges we have faced and will face in every Premier League game". He added: "They are a good team with a fantastic manager. They played a great Championship season. They had quite a tough schedule at the beginning [of this season]."

• On the upcoming international break: "We decided to give the players the first week off. It's quite difficult to keep the motivation high when you know there is no competitive game in the mid-season. Then, in the second week, we will start having a normal training week with a friendly game on Saturday. Then, in the third week, hopefully all internationals will come back well without any injuries. Then we prepare for Crystal Palace."

Hit play above to hear more from Glasner, talking to BBC Radio Nottingham, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Listen to full commentary of Nottingham Forest v Coventry on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

All the key lines from Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Nottingham Forest have been given the green light for a major expansion of the City Ground.

The club plans to increase the ground's capacity from 31,000 to 52,500 in two stages, which will come at an estimated cost of £790m.

The proposals were approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council's planning committee on Wednesday.

Subject to a range of conditions, planning permission has been granted to demolish and replace the Peter Taylor Stand and redevelop the Trent End, while outline planning permission has been granted to redevelop the Brian Clough Stand.

In addition, the redevelopment will include a new public plaza and restaurant, as well as improved conferencing, media and back-of-house facilities.

Owner Evangelos Marinakis has invested heavily in the playing squad in recent seasons, helping Forest rise from the Championship to the Premier League and into European competition, and now plans to redevelop the City Ground are progressing.

How do you feel about the stadium news? Is this a demonstration of Forest's ambition? Is there anything you would have prioritised over the stadium expansion?

Get in touch with your views

Listen to the clip below as the BBC's Hugh Casswell gives the latest on the expansion plans and explains the obstacles still to be overcome.

Tottenham remain interested in Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, having previously tried to sign the 26-year-old in summer 2025, but the Reds have no intention of selling. (Teamtalk, external)

Meanwhile, AC Milan's option to turn Omari Hutchinson's loan move from Nottingham Forest into a permanent switch is close to 50m euros (£42.8m). (Calciomercato - in Italian, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Referees' chief Howard Webb has insisted there was "conclusive" evidence to disallow Nottingham Forest's goal against Tottenham Hotspur for handball by Neco Williams.

The Forest defender bundled the ball home in the 67th minute but video assistant referee Peter Bankes stepped in to rule out the goal for accidental handball.

It was a controversial incident with Williams and Forest manager Oliver Glasner adamant after the 0-0 draw that there was no proof the ball touched an arm.

"I've seen the images and the replays and at not one moment did I think I handballed it," Williams told Sky Sports.

But running through the incident on Match Officials Mic'd Up, Webb backed the decision to disallow the goal.

"This is not about clear and obvious. It's about a matter of fact," said Webb.

"The VAR looks at it, initially you can hear that he's not conclusive. He doesn't feel it's quite there.

"But then when he slows it down to an appropriate pace and gets the right angle, you can see that the ball clearly and conclusively hits the right arm. You see the sleeve move.

"It's clear. It's conclusive, and the goal has to be disallowed.

"Harsh on Neco Williams, but the officials have no choice."