Nottingham Forest owner wants to buy Trent Rockets franchise – and make them play in red

Exclusive: Discussions held about investing in Hundred franchise as part of Evangelos Marinakis’s plan to build sporting empire in the city

Nottingham Forest have had talks about buying a stake in Hundred franchise Trent Rockets as part of owner Evangelos Marinakis’s plan to build a sporting empire in the city.

Forest are understood to have held discussions with both the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Nottinghamshire about investing in the Rockets ahead of the Hundred sales process, which will formally begin next month.

The ECB are gifting 51 per cent of the eight franchises to the host venues including Nottinghamshire and hope to raise over £400m by selling off the remaining 49 per cent of each team, in a process they aim to conclude by Christmas.

Earlier this summer the club announced the formation of Nottingham Forest Netball, who will join the Netball Super League next year. Forest’s non-footballing priority at present is to ensure the successful launch of their netball franchise ahead of their first season, but the club remain interested in cricket and view the Trent Rockets as a good fit.

Forest have not committed to bidding in the ECB’s initial auction, but given the complexity of the process there is no guarantee it will be concluded this year. Forest could also opt to buy part of Nottinghamshire’s 51 per cent stake at a later date.

Any investment from the football club would lead to a major rebrand and a name change, with Nottingham Rockets viewed as a possibility. Marinakis would also insist the Hundred team play in red, which is his favourite colour. Much of the artwork in the Greek billionaire’s London apartment is red, while he also wears a red bracelet.

Marinakis’ vision for expanding Forest’s sporting interests mirrors that of his Greek club Olympiacos, who play in red and white. In addition to the hugely successful football club who won the Europa Conference League last season, Olympiacos also have men’s and women’s teams in basketball, volleyball and water polo, who have all won European titles.