Simon Jordan makes Evangelos Marinakis point amid Nottingham Forest 'inferiority complex'

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis

Nottingham Forest’s move to employ former referee Mark Clattenburg continues to generate plenty of debate.

Former Crystal Palace chief Simon Jordan is the latest to have his say on the Reds’ decision. But while he says he agrees with the verdict of ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville on the subject, he has defended the right of Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis to make the appointment.

Clattenburg has been brought in by the Reds on a consultancy basis as match and performance analyst. The idea is for him to help the club understand why certain refereeing decisions are made and also to help improve their relationship with the Professional Game Match Officials Board Limited (PGMOL).

Neville criticised Forest for the appointment, describing it as “a step too far”. Jordan responded that while it was a “waste of money”, he didn’t agree with Neville’s phrasing.

“Do I think it’s great? Do I agree with Gary Neville? Yeah, I think I probably do,” he said on talkSPORT.

“I don’t think it’s a step too far. A step too far to what?

“If Nottingham Forest want to waste money on having Mark Clattenburg give them an insight that they should already have themselves and aid them with their inferiority complex about the reasons why they are getting bad decisions and help their players understand how they can avoid getting bad decisions, then that’s upon them. It goes into the area of the Dave Brailsford mentality about the benefit of marginal gains.

“I don’t understand what the furore is about. What’s the big deal? Why is it even a discussion point? Why’s Gary Neville worried about it? Why does it need to be observed on?

“The fact I concur with his view is neither here nor there. I actually don’t think it’s anyone else’s business besides Nottingham Forest’s.”

Forest have contacted the PGMOL on three occasions this season, having been on the end of several controversial decisions. They had cause for complaint again last Saturday, when they argued a spot-kick should have been awarded for a foul on Neco Williams by West Ham United’s Maxwel Cornet.

Jordan added: “If they believe there is an intrinsic value in either disavowing themselves of their perceived victim complex or engaging in a situation where they can engage with the referee in a slightly different way or help their players understand certain things that they should understand anyway, then so be it.

“There might be a positive side of this. If you are building up this head of steam that you are constantly being picked upon and ultimately you’re a victim of something, nothing is fair and decisions don’t even out, then there might be some material benefit in it.

“Marinakis, despite the fact he has a reputation for being difficult to deal with, is not somebody that’s a fool. He’s not a fool, he’s a very successful man, and so he must have a reason for it.”

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