Birtles: Forest must sign players now

LET me present you with a few facts. Since the last week in May – almost a month ago – Nottingham Forest have made concrete bids for three players.

They have offered £1m for David McGoldrick, around £700,000 for Paul McKenna and a seven-figure sum for Matt Mills, the Doncaster defender.

Beyond that, supposedly, they have targeted Dexter Blackstock, who it was thought they had agreed a fee for with QPR before he came on loan, Chris Gunter, the Spurs defender, and Joel Lynch, the Brighton man who spent the majority of last season at the City Ground.

All three players have publicly expressed their desire to come to Forest with Gunter, in fact, almost begging for the chance to return.

It is the same story with Gary McSheffrey, who is fighting to prove his fitness at Birmingham – but who is a great talent at Championship level.

And perhaps, to a lesser extent, with Rob Jones, the Hibs captain, who is said to be keen on a move south of the border.

But how many of these players have signed, as we come to the start of the week when some of the squad are due to report back for pre-season training?

How many of these bids have been successful?

Not a single one.

Yes, it is the worst kept secret in football that Forest have signed Dele Adebola on a free transfer from Bristol City.

But, while I believe he will have a role to play next season, with respect, he alone is not going to transform Forest from a side that struggled against relegation into one that can challenge in the top half of the table.

They need more than that.

I realise that, by saying this, I am hardly making some sort of grand revelation. There is not a single Forest fan out there who does not realise this.

And nobody will be more certain of that fact than Billy Davies himself, because he is not an idiot.

I am absolutely certain that he will have drawn up a list of targets for the summer, because he is an experienced manager.

And, through what has been made public, it is clear that Forest have made an effort to sign some of those he has targeted.

Well, to be blunt, it is imperative that they try a little harder. Why?

Yes, it would be good to have the basis of the squad together by the time they report back for training.

But, more significant than that is the simple fact that, if they rest on their laurels for too long, they are going to lose out.

Yes, there were a large number of players who were keen on returning to Forest after coming here on loan.

It does seem that Davies – and probably Colin Calderwood before him – has made it a good place to work, as a player.

But there is a difference between a player wanting to come and his club allowing him to, as we seem to be finding out.

Don't get me wrong. I understand that Nigel Doughty has been stung by some of the reckless spending he allowed some previous managers to indulge in.

And I am not about to slaughter the man who has ploughed so much into Forest in an effort to make the club a success again.

But, good intentions aside, there is now a real danger that some of the players Forest have targeted will end up going elsewhere.

Newcastle are interested in Blackstock and a string of clubs, including Newcastle and Boro, are hot on the heels of Gunter.

McSheffrey will have a queue of clubs after him, as will, in all likelihood, McGoldrick.

Mills is being watched by Birmingham, who want to bolster their squad for the Premiership.

And McKenna might just decide he wants to stay at Preston.

Forest's proud history does make them a positive attraction at this level of the game. Players will still want to play for them, because of the proud name of the club.

But that will only take you so far.

And I am afraid there is a stark reality that Forest may find themselves having to face in the near future.

Given the choice of playing for Doncaster, Preston or even QPR, many players would find it an easy decision to come to Forest.

But, when you find yourselves in a battle with the likes of Newcastle, Middlesbrough and West Brom for the pick of the players in the Championship, you do not have the luxury of being able to hesitate or play a patient game.

If players want to sign for you, get them signed.

Otherwise, we are in danger of seeing a repeat of January, when not a single one of the players Davies wanted was actually signed.

Of course, Forest could prove me wrong by making a couple of signings in the next 24 hours.

But this is one occasion when I would be happy to eat some humble pie.

Because Forest need new players if they are to survive next season.

And I desperately want to see that happen.