Given the storm around him around the time of his Rangers exit, it’s hard to believe Ross Wilson has helped bring a bit of much-needed calm at Nottingham Forest.
And the man who emerged as a target for the Ibrox legions before his departure is now quietly going about his business in a huge developing story of the Premier League season.
Nottingham Forest moved up to third in England’s top flight thanks to a 3-0 win for boss Nuno Espirito Santo away to his old club Wolves on Monday night which has seen talk of a potential title challenge – with Wilson namechecked during Sky Sports commentary on the day ex player and son of the legendary Brian Clough, Nigel, praised the club’s “sensible recruitment”.
The Midlands outfit are now locked on 40 points with second placed Arsenal and are just six points off leaders Liverpool who they play next in the league. Anfield legend Jamie Carragher said: “If they beat Liverpool they are in the title race.”
Santo recently praised the work of the City Ground recruitment team, led by Wilson who was much-maligned at Rangers. The Portuguese said: “Recruitment is more important than it has ever been. It is not only about tactical understanding and ability, but the human aspect and where you want to go. They have to fit into our culture. It is also about avoiding mistakes, and being absolutely sure that when the player comes in he’s a piece that fits into your puzzle.”
Gers fans might raise eyebrows when Santo talks of avoiding mistakes where Wilson – he is chief football officer with global technical director George Syrianos and head of recruitment Pedro Ferreira beside him – is concerned.
Ben Davies, Rabbi Matondo, Tom Lawrence and Ridvan Yilmaz arrived in his final summer window. John Souttar and Nico Raskin arrive in the January and in the latter’s defence is now proving his worth. But overall his strike rate wasn’t positive.
Just a month before his exit at Rangers in April 2023, when he left to replace sporting director Filippo Giraldi, fans at Fir Park held up flyers with Wilson’s face crossed out and the message “time for change’”. Then managing director Stewart Robertson was also in their line of fire. Ibrox strike legend and Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd said at what was just the latest protest at the time: “You look at Stewart Robertson and especially Ross Wilson, you are going to be judged by the recruitment side of it. And it’s not been good enough, so there has be some kind of accountability.”
Stinging criticism had also been directed at him during the club’s AGM when one shareholder lambasted him, rhyming off a string of signings that hadn’t worked out.
And that’s before mentioning the hiring of Michael Beale with Wilson instrumental in that failed appointment. At the AGM, Robertson defended Wilson – who said in response that “Ross Wilson doesn’t sign football players here” – and pointed to other areas of the club that come under his remit.
He could probably now argue that he’s shopping in Harrods compared to Aldi with the Premier League awash with cash compared to the Scottish Premiership in general and specifically at Rangers who have been unable to match rivals Celtic when it comes to fees spent on players in recent season.
However, Wilson and his team have also had to be shrewd given the EPL’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) a constant concern. And within those constraints Forest have made signings who have made huge contributions including the centre half pairing of Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo, Callum Hudson-Odoi (£3 million ), Anthony Elanga (£13.5 million) and Ola Aina (free transfer).
It’s changed days from when they signed THIRTY ONE players in the 2022/23 season for their big top flight return under Steve Cooper with Wilson playing his part in a quiet revolution.