The Mirror has taken their fantastic story of Nigel leaving for Forest and given it an equally fanciful ending with the suggestion the move only broken down due to Clough not being qualified - in other words talented!
The ability for the mirror to make up and deliver a story without a quote, source or in fact any substance at all, took a fabulous new turn today.
Rarely do you find a media outlet able to create, run with and finish a story without one shred of evidence to back it up. Well not since the “News Of The World’ shut its doors anyway.
Their recent run of stories that Nigel was on the verge of a move to Forest to replace Steve McLaren, was today given a final chapter which concluded the story in a very unusual and somewhat inventive way. For what seems to have been a work of fiction that H.G Wells would have been proud of - the final twist was worthy of Hitchcock.
To quote what should be a Pulitzer Prize winning piece:
Nigel Clough's move back to Nottingham Forest is off – because he does not have the proper coaching badges. Forest has had to pull out of a deal after discovering that Clough only has a B licence, one of the lowest-level qualifications.
Under new regulations brought in last summer, Championship clubs can only appoint bosses with A or Pro licences. The rule was brought in under instructions from the FA and is backed by the LMA bosses union and Forest cannot find a way around it.
Clough has not enrolled on any further courses and is now effectively stuck at Derby, where his contract runs out in the summer. He is allowed to carry on there with just a B badge.
The rule will have been a shock to Clough, who faces an uncertain future until he gets the extra qualifications.
Click here to read the full article (if you enjoy fantasy stories!)
The article not only murders the English language – it also reeks of some unusual bias using the phrases “stuck at Derby” and “the rule will be a shock to Clough”.
It is hard to believe that any issues with Clough’s badges would not already be known by the club that employs him and in turn would not be an issue with both of them with Nigel hoping for an eventual birth into the top flight for DCFC.
Without an official comment or Nigel being posed the question (which I am sure Radio Derby will take care of in coming days) it is hard to know what or if in fact anything at all went on behind the scenes.
To me it is more likely that nothing has occurred or if any contact was in fact made, Nigel knocked them back.
The only worry for me was when Mr. Glick refused to comment on the matter and no new contract had as yet appeared - mainly because when Tom promises everything will be fine – it quite often isn’t.
If the club did let another Clough leave the club – especially after he has led the club to third in the league on a budget of string and buttons – Mr. Glick might wish his new plaza had already been constructed to give himself more places to hide.
Deano & Pearo told get ready to go!
Dean Leacock and Stephen Pearson have been draining Nigel’s wage budget for some time as they use the revolving door installed on the Rams medical room.
It seems that now Nigel would like to get the pair fit so he can ship them out to any interested suitors.
He will be busily writing invitations for rival scouts to come and see the fallen former favourites as they attempt to gain match fitness in the Rams reserves match against Forest on Wednesday night.
Nigel Clough spoke about the situation and perhaps surprisingly - for some Mirror journalists - sounded like a man planning for the future of the Rams:
"They are just starting their comebacks now, realistically with a view to getting a couple of games and being available for loan, with a view to a permanent move in January.”
Chris Riggott will also continue his return from injury in the same match and Nigel was excited about the Derby born defenders imminent return:
"It's good to have Chris back he needs to have a good week or two of training under his belt now, which is the next step as he builds but everything up.”
"Everything is geared towards him completing 90 minutes in the reserves now. Whether that comes against Forest or the game after that having played 90 minutes, we will have to wait and see.”
"We will see how he goes in training too but it is good to have him back and when he is available he will be an important member of the squad."
Sorry Forest fans it seems Nigel is looking forward and the future for him is black and white and woolly!