Former Nottingham Forest defender forced exit after…

Former Nottingham Forest defender forced exit after 'booming balls' to the Trent

Former Nottingham Forest defender Nicky Eaden has revealed how he forced his exit to Lincoln City by "booming balls to the Trent" in training.

The ex-Barnsley defender, who won promotion three times to the Premier League, left the City Ground to join the Imps in 2006 to aid their League Two promotion push.

But Eaden claimed he had to take drastic steps to leave after claiming Forest were not going to let him go because Lincoln were not contributing enough to his wages.

Forest were managed by Colin Calderwood at the time and after being told he would not be playing after being informed he would be part of their plans, Eaden, who made 28 appearances in the league at the City Ground, made his feelings clear by his actions in training.

"John Deehan was at Lincoln and he said I know Colin really well, I'll try to get you on loan," he told the Undr the Cosh podcast.

"They were in League Two, they were up in the play-offs so I said yeah. I just want to play and I was 33 or 34.

"Dixie (Deehan) rang back and said Colin isn't letting you go. I went why not? I've been told I am not playing so I went to see him and he said you're not going because they are not paying enough to cover your wages.

"But they're League Two. They won't. Anyway, we go to training. I get the ball off the keeper and I just had a shot. Every time I got it, I just had a shot. He could see I was messing about.

"He called training off and said I can't have that. I just said let me go on loan. And he said he would do his best to get me out on loan but said I don't want you f**king about again.

"Trained next day, no problem. I spoke to Dixie again and he said they are not letting you go. In training, I started booming balls to the Trent. I was gone the next day."

Eaden originally signed for Forest in the summer of 2005 under Gary Megson who then left as Reds boss by mutual consent in February 2006 after a dismal run of form.

Forest eventually just finished outside the play-offs in League One which was some achievement given they had been in the bottom half of the table.

But speaking about his experience under Megson at Forest, Eaden said there was an absence of togetherness.

"I had great team spirit at Barnsley, real togetherness," he said. "Good team spirit at Birmingham among the lads who were playing week in, week out.

"Wigan great team spirit, Forest total f***ing opposite. It was like every man for himself at times.

"Listen I was struggling. My legs were going but bearing in mind I had just come from a Wigan team and I was playing well. I wasn't being overrun and physically I felt good.

"I was thinking I've just been promoted to the Prem and all the Forest players had just been relegated from the Champ.

"A lot of the signings had come from other relegated clubs and I am thinking these all have relegations on their CV, I haven't.

"But I am the one who is struggling. Every time I got the ball all I could see were numbers running away. It was like playing with the Scarlet Pimpernel.

"I was trying to find people and thinking where the f**k is he? I had been promoted at three clubs from the Champ and I saw what team spirit and togetherness got you. And here I am thinking what the f**k is this place?

"It's a great club and it was the best club I've been at in terms of looking after players. Anything you wanted, you got.

"I think Meggo tried to change that a little bit but I didn't think he helped the situation."

What do you remember about Gary Megson's time at Forest? Have your say in the comments section.

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