Seeing a good, young player leave the football club is always a disappointing time, and with Nottingham Forest’s continued absence of Premier League football, unfortunately, it’s inevitable.
Arvin Appiah’s departure for Spanish football is an interesting one and probably came out of left field, but Almeria have spent a bit of money since their recent takeover in a bid to get back into La Liga.
They’re clearly taking a punt on Appiah’s future potential and it will frustrate Forest supporters that his potential won’t be fulfilled at the City Ground.
When you’re a Championship club like Forest are, one which hasn’t been in the top flight for two decades and therefore has to generate its own income, there’s no secret in the fact that you will be forced to sell players to make ends meet.
It’s obvious, and although Evangelos Marinakis may not be struggling for money, he still has to balance the books and keep the club within Financial Fair Play, it has to be self-sufficient.
You cannot simply rely on one man's money, that is just not sustainable.
Selling a player like Appiah for £8m – if that’s what it turns out to be – and Ben Brereton for £7m keeps their heads above water, and will allow Sabri Lamouchi to strengthen his squad elsewhere. Let’s not forget, we do have other youngsters making the grade.
Brennan Johnson is the obvious one which springs to my mind, though you can’t forget Joe Worrall and Matty Cash, regulars in the starting XI having come through the academy.
I do question, however, their overall recruitment policy.
If Forest managed their recruitment better over a period of time, would they need to sell a young player to keep things on an even keel, I'm not so sure.
When you look at the sheer amount of players signed in the last couple of years under various different managers, it is frightening, especially when you consider what little impact they've had.
That’s before you consider the financial outlay, it must be astronomical.
At least with transfer fees coming in for Appiah and Gboly Ariyibi and players leaving off the wage bill, things will start to quieten down and that squad size will be reduced, making Lamouchi’s life a little easier.
This week, Kenny Burns was in discussion with Barry Cooper
