Evangelos Marinakis ‘polarises opinion’ but Nottingham Forest legend Stuart Pearce explains why you ‘can’t knock’ larger-than-life Reds owner after bold ‘we always win’ Morgan Gibbs-White statement

Greek shipping magnate Marinakis completed a takeover at the City Ground in 2017. Big plans were drawn up at that stage, but it took five years for Steve Cooper to deliver on an ambitious remit and return Premier League football to Trentside.

Marinakis has made his mark on the English top-flight since then, with elaborate recruitment drives, emotional online statements, banning of certain pundits, marches onto the pitch and threats of legal action against rivals seeing him make plenty of headlines.

The 57-year-old, who also owns Olympiakos and Rio Ave, has become box office in his own right. Forest icon Pearce, speaking in association with the online casino Casino.org, told GOAL when asked for his opinion on Marinakis: “He’s come to the club, put his money into the club, he’s larger than life in regard to how he is and what he is.

“To be fair, the proof is in the pudding. Where Forest are at the moment, in Europe, the fact that he has got them promoted under his tenureship, I think he is doing a lot right. He polarises opinion a little bit in some of the things he does, but there is a real passion for the club to do well. He wants to drive it. You can’t knock it.”

Marinakis has attracted criticism from some, but could be considered the model owner in many ways - with it impossible to question his commitment of passion and funding to the Forest cause. Pearce added: “I think the big thing is some of the things we don’t see, behind the scenes, what’s the relationship with the manager like on a daily basis, and various other bits and pieces. Are they enjoying working for him? All of those things go into the mix as well. That is something we won’t be privy to.

“Forest are looking as strong as they have been for a number of years, which is an understatement - you are going back 20-30 years now for the last time we were in Europe. The proof is in the pudding, he’s put his money into the football club, they have got a wealth of talent on the playing list and the fans are making that football club bounce at the moment - with the home games being sold out. I think that is more of an indicator as to how he’s doing.”

Marinakis played a prominent role in the recent transfer saga that saw Tottenham attempt to trigger a hidden release clause in Morgan Gibbs-White's contract. No deal was done, with the England international going on to agree fresh terms with Forest. Marinakis said on the back of that agreement: “At the end of the day, we always win.”