Alious
Nottingham Forest has introduced a fresh face to its leadership ranks, with veteran political figure Michael Dugher ascending to the organization’s board of directors, coinciding with the departure of previous chairman Tom Cartledge from his board-related responsibilities.
Cartledge originally stepped away from his chairmanship role in the preceding month, citing a desire to concentrate on managing his family’s commercial enterprises while initially retaining his board membership.
His tenure as chairman, which commenced in August 2023, was notably marked by the club’s successful navigation through a precarious relegation threat during his inaugural season.
Currently serving as the Chief Executive of Handley House – a corporate entity overseeing three design-oriented businesses including the architectural consultancy Benoy – Cartledge has now completely concluded his involvement with Forest’s governance structure.
The newly appointed board member, Michael Dugher, brings an extensive background spanning three decades in governmental and public sector engagement.
His professional history includes a significant period as Chief Spokesman for former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and he formally exited parliamentary politics in 2017.
Since leaving political office, Dugher has transitioned into advisory roles across multiple corporate environments.
His connection to Nottingham Forest extends far beyond professional involvement, with the club holding a deeply personal significance – he has been a devoted supporter for over three decades and previously served on the Nottingham Forest Community Trust’s board.
Forest’s current Chairman, Nicholas Randall KC, expressed enthusiastic support for the appointment, describing Dugher as an “outstanding candidate” and emphasizing the timing’s significance both in competitive and administrative contexts.
Dugher himself communicated profound excitement about the opportunity, describing his invitation to join the board as an “honour and privilege”.
He expressed optimistic intentions to leverage his extensive professional experience in supporting the club’s continued growth and development.
The statement underscores Dugher’s lifelong passion for the club, with his quote dramatically positioning Nottingham Forest as “the greatest football club on planet earth” – a sentiment reflecting both his personal commitment and the emotional investment typical of long-standing football supporters transitioning into governance roles.
Alious
