Collymore’s column: Liverpool’s pursuit of Arne Slot is a worry, spending cap won’t please the ‘Big Six’ and why football needs more gay representation

In his exclusive column for CaughtOffside, former Aston Villa and Liverpool attacker Stan Collymore discusses some of football’s biggest talking points, including that Nottingham Forest social media post, Liverpool’s next manager and reaction to reports several top-flight players are preparing to come out as gay, plus much more.

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Think it through next time, Forest

I’m a proud former Nottingham Forest player who, for the 150th anniversary of England’s third oldest club, was inducted by season ticket holders and members into Forest’s greatest-ever XI., and that is something I am incredibly proud of.

So, when I saw the initial tweet from the club, I genuinely wondered if it was real or if someone had faked it because the tone and rashness of its timing worried me. It didn’t excite me like it did a thousand social media keyboard warriors who were shouting: “GO FOREST, ON BEHALF OF FOOTBALL!”

It’s worrying because I know how football works, and that is like most industries — by protocols, discussion, and solutions. If you read that post about the wrongdoing of your company after your shift, you’d better make damn sure HR are onside and your case is strong, otherwise, you’re in trouble — that’s all I worry about, Forest getting in trouble.

All clubs are unhappy with decisions, all are frustrated as hell with VAR and the slowness, the inconsistencies and to be honest I wish we could get rid of it for good. But the FA and Premier League, both as global brands, cannot, nor will they. Why? — Because it burns a fire for conspiracy theories and wears down the trust between fan and game.

In this case, regardless of whether you thought Forest should have had one, two, three or no penalties against Everton, the perceived questioning of a man none of us know, is wrong. Just plain wrong.

Forest fans back their club, and owner, and that’s fine, I wouldn’t expect anything less. But when the dust settles and the million fan sites and wannabes on social media, most of whom can’t be arsed to act on issues regarding their own clubs fall away, Forest are left with their magnificent support, a feisty owner and a conflict with the league and governing body — something they can ill afford.

I just wish them well and hope they realise that behind-the-scenes diplomacy, something the other 19 clubs manage, is better than shooting from the hip.

Liverpool’s pursuit of Arne…