Reports have emerged over what Nuno Espirito Santo told his Nottingham Forest players after the club were charged with breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

The Reds and Everton were charged in January with allegedly breaking PSR. The Toffees were also charged in November last year over an alleged breach of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, which saw them handed an immediate 10-point deduction, something they have appealed with a decision set to be announced over the coming weeks.

Forest will find out the outcome of their case by May 24 at the latest, five days after the final day of the 2023/24 Premier League season. The Reds appointed leading sports lawyer Nick De Marco, a KC with Blackstone Chambers in London, to conduct the case.

And the Daily Telegraph have reported details of what Nuno first said to the Forest players when the charge was announced in January. They report that Nuno gathered the Reds squad in a meeting room and told them to ‘try and block out the uncertainty’. They add that he also said they ‘could only focus on their jobs on the pitch and train properly.’

Forest have won three matches in the eight games since their FFP charge was announced on January 15. FA Cup replay wins over Blackpool and Bristol City, as well as Saturday’s 2-0 win over West Ham in the league, are the club’s only victories since the announcement.

Speaking to the media after the charge was announced, Nuno said: “We are all concerned in the club but me as a coach, it’s nothing I have to think about or deal with. My job is clear, it is to prepare the team and that’s what we’re focused on.

“Today we will train and we know the players know the situation, but I’ll tell them the same as I’m telling you, let’s forget about this and focus on our job.”