The club is also very cash poor. Now after managing only an away 0-0 tie against fellow regulation prospect Charlton, relegation seems almost a certainty for Forest. Yet it is possible the team will reverse course and try to keep Harkes. To start with, Atkinson is saying that if Forest is relegated he is willing to remain at the helm to insure its stay in the First Division will only be for a year. In fact, he appears to be making some deals with an eye on the future, and two of these deals might end up making Harkes all but indispensable.
Forest is desperate for scoring.
So they are making deals for Hearts Stephane Adam and for British First Division scoring sensation Dean Windass. In doing so they are giving up two key defenders Des Lyttle and Craig Armstrong. This leaves Forest very short of experienced men at defense. Two weeks ago Harkes came out of Forest s match against West Ham in the 67th minute not because he was playing poorly, but because of a calf injury. Because of the injury he did not play against either Chelsea or last Saturday against Charlton.