Brennan Johnson’s dad makes ‘difficult’ Nottingham Forest admission after Tottenham transfer

David Johnson has admitted it was “very difficult” seeing his son Brennan Johnson leave Nottingham Forest.

The forward left the City Ground to join Tottenham this summer having risen through the Reds’ youth academy before making over 100 appearances for Forest’s first team. He scored 29 goals and provided 12 assists in total during his time Trentside.

And Johnson senior, who scored 47 goals in 150 appearances for Forest between 2001 and 2006, has opened up on how difficult it is to see his son play for another team. However, he believes that the move was best for both the Reds and Johnson.

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“It was a whirlwind, I think 48 hours when the permission was given obviously to go and get the deal done,” he told Notts TV.

“I think it was a great deal for both parties. Forest, we hold in such high regard, and they wanted to go in this direction and to build upon last year and they needed a sale of Brennan to move forward and that’s how football is nowadays.

“They can’t compete with the big guns with, like, 800 million commercial revenues, so they have to be brighter and they’ve got an academy player for free, they’ve moved him

“It’s very difficult for us as a family. We used to walk to games and now when he’s having his media day and he turned up in a white kit, it was very strange. We went to our first game on Saturday and just seeing him in a different kit, we don’t know the songs or anything, you just sit there twiddling your thumbs going ‘I hope they win’, and it’s a big change for us.

“But for him, it was probably the right time and the right time for the club, and I think that’s the reason why a lot of people have wished him all the best and the club have moved on.

“They’ve [Forest] recruited very well this year and they’ve got some real quality players in, and I think they’ve got a free hit to really kick on this year and they’ve got some real quality strength in depth all over the pitch. There’s two or three players in every position, so I think the manager will be looking for a really good season and a strong season.”