Busy summer on Trentside as Powell prepares for new season
Pick of the bunch, Van der Vaart snapped up from SpursIt's been a very busy summer so far on Trentside, with no fewer than 10 new players arriving at the City Ground, and it's not even the end of July! We caught up with the Forest boss for a quick word on last season's cup heroics, European football, new signings, and more.
EP: Morning! It's been a busy week for you hasn't it? 10 signings in the space of 7 days, that's fantastic! Do you feel you have a squad able to challenge further up the table next season?
Powell: Yes Definitely, I wouldn't have signed them otherwise! But no, the players we've brought in all have a huge amount of experience in playing for big clubs and in European competitions, they will no doubt improve the side.
EP: Rafael Van der Vaart is one of your new signings. The fans are eager to see him in a Forest shirt. How did you manage to persuade such a player to sign for the club?
Powell: He knew this was the right club for him the moment we shown him around the ground. You can just smell the history around the place, and he knew that this was a big club from the onset. I'll admit it was a tough one, as there were lot's of high profile clubs in for him such as Lyon and Werder Bremen, but we're delighted he chosen to join us.
EP: That's fantastic! Despite all these great signings, fans have been sad to hear that Robert Earnshaw has left the club, could you explain that one for us? He's been instrumental in our rise to the Premier League and FA Cup success.
Powell: Robbie is a fantastic player, and I was also upset to see him leave. After all, I am a fan as well as a manager! But we both felt it was the right time for him to go. At the age he is, he doesn't want to come to the end of his career being a bit part player, he still has a lot to offer and unfortunately I couldn't guarantee him that here. I did offer him a new contract in March, but he felt it was time to move on and I fully understood his decision. He will go down in the history books here at Forest for his FA Cup heroics. The late winners in the Semi-Final against Wolves and Final against Man City were a joy to behold. We wish him all the best.
EP: All the best Robbie if you're reading this! From us at the Evening Post! So, what did you make of the teams performances last season then?
Powell: It was the best moment of my life winning the FA Cup. It's what dreams are made of. All my life i've supported the team, been going to games since I was a young boy, but to be the man in charge of our first FA Cup win since 1959 was just fantastic. It won't stop there either! I'm hungry for success and i'm positive this club will return to the peak of Europe once again.
EP: Will you be going all out in the Europa League this season? Or will you be concentrating on the League?
Powell: Of course i'll be going out. The fans deserve it, it will be our first European Campaign since 1995, so it's going to be a fantastic experience. I'm really looking forward to it.
EP: We've got to ask you this i'm afraid, but did you ever consider joining Tottenham when you got an approach this summer? There are rumours that you would have jumped ship had we lost in the final?
Powell: I don't know where those rumours came from. It never even crossed my mind about leaving the club. The was an approach from Tottenham, yes. They approached me only 2 days before the Cup Final and I asked Daniel Levy if I could think over my decision for a week. He agreed, then I turned them down a week later. The only reason I delayed it for a week was so that I had full concentration on the Cup Final and nothing else. Had I accepted, I would have left the club without a manger only 2 days before the biggest game in years. Had I rejected, all the media focus would have been took away from the FA Cup Cup.
EP: Well we're glad you're staying at Forest! All the best for the coming season, and thanks for your time.
He is too good to play for you anyway. He is a Leeds lad through and through. 
