League Championship side Nottingham Forest Owner Fawaz Al Hasawi has "rejected an improved bid from the U.S.-based consortium that is trying to take over the struggling" club, according to Simon Jennings of REUTERS. Former MLB San Diego Padres Owner John Jay Moores and fellow entrepreneur Charles Noell, who head the consortium, said in a statement that Al Hasawi, who took over Forest in '12, "had turned down their latest offer." They said, "We have been firmly committed to completing the acquisition since we opened negotiations in August and we remained optimistic throughout that the sale would be completed. That the deal remains incomplete is not due to any lack of immediately available capital, belief, desire, action or ability on the part of either ourselves or our advisory team." Al Hasawi issued an open letter to Forest's supporters on the club's website on Thursday, saying that "he is committed to securing Forest's success on and off the pitch" and announcing the appointment of Samantha Gordon as CFO (REUTERS, 1/20).
