A far cry from last season then, when at more or less this time we were in the bottom 3 and looking dead certs for relegation. We then went into a game with Doncaster Rovers, a game which ultimately cost Colin Calderwood his job. This time around, with Billy Davies at the helm, we are about to play Preston - one of Davies’ former clubs. We are now trying to maintain our unbeaten run of 13 games, whilst also pushing for a play off spot at the least. What a difference a year makes! It will also see the former Mr Preston North End go up against his former club. In case you do not know who I mean, I’m talking about our captain Paul McKenna. Apart from one game against Watford (and even in that game he got an assist) he has been very consistent. He injects vital experience into a young squad, which can only have positive benefits in the future. After 14 years at Preston, you would like to think he would get a good reception.

So things are looking great on the pitch. However, after hearing some news today, it seems things are not so good off it. Don’t worry the club isn’t in debt (I hope), something else. Nottingham was named as one of the areas that will be used should England get the 2018 World Cup. This would mean a move away from The City Ground, our spiritual home since 1898, and moving to a new stadium with a seating capacity in the region of 40,000 – 50,000 seats. This has annoyed me a lot. If you have been to The City Ground, you would have heard the line in the chant, ‘It’s always to be, The City Ground.’ I don’t recall hearing, ‘It’s always to be, an eco-friendly dustbin in a field.’ We don’t need to move grounds. All we need to do, is make the Main Stand two tier and give the place a clean on the outside. It is already a Premier League ground, but it seems some of the hierachy don’t see it that way. My first game was Nottingham Forest v Sheffield Wednesday, Saturday May 1st 1999. It was a Premiership fixture. I was 5 years old, and I adored it and if there is such a thing at love at first sight, then that was it. I just hope that our amazing stadium sees top flight football at least once more before the seemingly inevitable move away.

A result quite frankly, I don’t think anyone in the world saw coming. I think now, even Billy Davies may secretly start thinking about promotion as most, if not all Forest fans have already. Although we are constantly reminded by Billy, and rightly so, that this season is a season for consolidation and that we are not ready to go up – the facts are looking very good. Still unbeaten away – the only team in the top 7 divisions in England to do so – unbeaten in 11 and 9 goals scored in our last 2 games. The signs are there for a long awaited reunion with the top flight.

Robert Earnshaw celebrates

Saturday also saw Robert Earnshaw score his first hat-trick for the club, and his first since 2005 I believe. Dexter Blackstock assisted one of Earnie’s goals and if they are clicking, that can only be a good thing. Comparisons have been drawn for these two – some people are saying the new Harewood and Johnson. However I am trying my best not to get carried away. After last season, a season where although we achieved our aim, (to stay in the division) we finished 19th. During pre-season I said I would happily take anywhere above 19th, and realistically we would finish mid table. Billy came out and said the same thing, even though he brought in 9 new signings.

So far it seems, I have been proved wrong. Haven’t lost a game since mid September and are playing very good football, something that was missing last season. Another thing we have improved on is that we are much harder to beat and that we are playing the teams that will be in the mix at the end of the year and getting results, and maybe more important to some fans, beating our rivals. Which we have done, first of all we recorded our first win of the season against our woolly neighbours and on Saturday we tore apart a Leicester team who had previously only lost by one goal in their matches they have been defeated in this season. And against the teams who will arguably be in the mix, we got a point away at Cardiff, beat Newcastle and drew with QPR and Middlesbrough away. We have also undeservedly lost to West Brom and Blackpool at home.

Our next game is Sheffield United away, which will not be easy and will put our away record to the test for sure. After apparently going into decline, they have now, rather secretly, crept their way up to tenth in the league. I would happily take a point from Bramall Lane and if we do that and get a point at least from Swansea on Saturday – then I think we really will be promotion candidates.

Liverpool supporters always think they are going to win the Premier League – that never changes. Notts County always think they won’t be in a relegation battle. With their finances from far and away, they should actually do a lot better than last season’s flirt with the bottom.

But Notts County aren’t the only team in Nottinghamshire to be splashing the cash this summer (and I’m not talking about Mansfield Town!) Nottingham Forest chairman Nigel Doughty has thoroughly backed manager Billy Davies during close and pre-season and it seems the spending isn’t going to stop just yet.

Not since the dark days of David Platt has there been such major riches to spend. The belief instilled in Billy Davies this summer has been nothing short of remarkable. His previous record in the Championship at both Preston North End and Derby County speak for themselves and with David Kelly by his side, they are starting to assemble a side that will most certainly compete in the Championship.

Today’s £1.75m capture of Tottenham and Wales international defender Chris Gunter means he will be teaming up with fellow new boys Paul Anderson (£250,000), Dele Adebola (Free), Lee Camp (Undisclosed) and David McGoldrick (£1.2m) and there’s alledgedly more to come.

The Reds have already agreed a £750,000 fee with Preston for midfielder Paul McKenna and there are strong rumours suggesting one of QPR’s Dexter Blackstock (£1.6m), Coventry’s Daniel Fox (£2.5m) or Celtic’s Lee Naylor (£600,000) could be the next player to come Trentside.

Forest’s 1-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon in Albufeira last weekend did little to quash the excitement currently starting in and around Nottingham and there are thoughts that Forest could maybe challenge at the top end of the table as opposed to the bottom last campaign.

I for one will be keeping my feet firmly on the ground and my money away from the bookies as I have followed Forest for far too long to take anything for granted. But with Billy Davies in charge, the backing from the Chairman and the support from the Forest faithful, you just never know as I am sure Burnley fans will tell you.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Garath McCleary has signed a new three-year contract at The City Ground.

The 22-year-old, who signed for £20,000 from non-league club Bromley, has gone from being a regular in the reserves to first-team squad player in only 18 months.

He told the club’s official website: “The club is looking to push on to the Premiership and I obviously want to be at the highest level of the game.

“Coming from non-league and now having three years with a club with so much ambition is a dream come true.”

It has been real ‘Roy of the Rovers’ stuff for McCleary after former manager Colin Calderwood signed the youngster but there is sure to be more to come.

McCleary has plenty of pace and can easily beat his man with the occasional trick. He mainly plays on the right wing but has been known to swap sides midway through games.

If he can improve his decision making and find a quality final ball into the box then there’s nothing to stop him going even higher in the game.

Bookmakers Victor Chandler have announced they will be the main team sponsor after a six-figure deal was struck for the 2009/2010 season.

They will replace Capital One who ended their five year association with the club at the end of last season.

Victor Chandler told the club’s official website: “Nottingham Forest have been a pleasure to deal with and I am excited about the opportunities which lie ahead for both organisations.

“My only concern is offering the 40/1 top price about them winning the Championship this season!”

Rumours had been circling Nottingham all summer as to who the new name would be and included the likes of E.ON, Santander Group and even Childline but Victor Chandler won the race and will now face a race against time to put their name on the new kit which will shortly be released by kit manufacturers Umbro.

There is no love lost between Forest, Derby County, Leicester City and Notts County and the Reds side will be looking to reach the grand finals alongside the already qualified Wolves, QPR, Tranmere, Middlesbrough and Celtic.

The Reds side lost to Leicester City last year but will be looking to go one step further this campaign in front of the Sky Television cameras.

The squad who are set to pull on the Red jersey once more are:

Darren Hayes, Des Lyttle, Gary Mills, Steve Chettle, David Phillips, Steve Stone, Ian Woan, Jason Lee and Lee Glover.

Derby County will be stiff opposition this season and have goal machine Dean Sturridge leading the line upfront. Leicester are always strong in this competition and Muzzy Izzet should pull the strings in the midfield areas. Notts County’s man to look out for could be Andy Legg although his long throw-ins that he was famous for in real football won’t come into effect in Masters football.

Kick-off is 8pm and tickets are still available priced at £20 for premium tickets, £15 for adults and £10 for concessions or over 65s.

Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Lee Camp is set to become Forest’s fourth signing of the week after the Reds finalised an undisclosed fee and agreed personal terms.

The 24-year-old, who made 15 appearances whilst on loan at The City Ground last season, has made no secret of his desire to move back to the East Midlands but Chief Executive Mark Arthur failed with an attempt to bring Camp to the club in January.

Camp looks set to become Forest’s number one although he is yet to complete his medical. He will have stiff competition from current first-team ‘keeper Paul Smith for the right to wear the jersey though after a string of fine displays after Camp returned to QPR from his loan spell just after Christmas.

Camp became a firm fans favourite during his time on Trentside with some superb saves most notably the penalty save against his former club and arch rivals Derby County in the final minutes of Forest’s 1-1 draw at Pride Park last season.

He also helped earn three vital points at Carrow Road during his final game with a superb tip around the post with only minutes remaining to keep the score at 3-2.

Many people discussed the possibility that there was tension between Camp and now Forest manager Billy Davies from their previous time together at Derby County when the Scotsman shipped him out on loan to QPR before he finally transferred there permanently.

This doesn’t appear to be the case however and I for one am delighted he has agreed personal terms and could be saving more shots and indeed points in the 2009/2010 season.

Welcome aboard Campos.

Nottingham Forest and Republic of Ireland U21 international defender Brendan Moloney has joined nearby neighbours Notts County on a six-month loan deal.

Former Forest caretaker boss and current Magpies manager Ian ‘Charlie’ McParland knows the youngster well from his days at the City Ground and he is delighted to have secured his services.

He said: “Brendan’s a very promising young player and he has been a target for some time,

“In fact, I tried to get him in last season but we couldn’t finalise a deal.

“It is nice to have finally landed him and I believe we have a player on our hands who is more than capable of performing at this level.

“When I saw him play for Forest’s first-team last season I thought he was one of their best players. I’ve always kept my eye on him – and I’m really pleased to have him on board.”

Moloney has had loan spells at Rushden & Diamonds and Chesterfield over the last couple of seasons and had his most successful run in the first-team under former manager Colin Calderwood.

Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies has completed a double swoop by signing Dele Adebola and Paul Anderson.

Adebola, 33, joins on a free transfer from Bristol City and Anderson, 20, signs permanently from Liverpool for a fee of £250,000 after a successful loan spell last season.

Anderson, who has put pen-to-paper on a four year deal, made 26 appearances in the Garibaldi Red last campaign and thinks Forest are going places.

He told the club’s official website: “Everyone’s ambition is to play in the Premier League and play at the highest level possible but I think we’re going to do that at this club.
 
“The ambition I’ve seen and the players I’ve seen at the club, there’s no reason why in the next couple of years we can’t be up in the Premiership.”

Adebola’s switch from Bristol City was one of the worst kept secrets in Nottingham and officially signs a two-year deal tomorrow when his contract expires at City.

He was the club’s player of the season last year and scored 10 goals.

Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Southampton striker David McGoldrick for £1m.

The 21-year-old former Notts County man has signed a four-year deal at The City Ground and becomes manager Billy Davies’ first official summer signing.

He could be the first of many to be leaving the Saints following their relegation to League One last season and their growing financial troubles however McGoldrick is delighted to be returning to his hometown of Nottingham.

He told the club’s official website: “I’m a Nottingham lad and to get the chance to come back home where my family and friends are is a dream.”

“Following Southampton’s relegation my agent told me that a few clubs were interested in me.

“Once I became aware of Forest’s interest, I told him to get me there and he’s managed to do that, which I’m very grateful for.”

McGoldrick was one of few bright sparks in a disappointing season at St Marys where he managed 12 goals.