BILLY Sharp believes Nottingham Forest should be finding their feet, now they are a third of the way into the Championship season.

With an entirely new look squad featuring more than a dozen new faces, it was always going to take time for Forest to gel.

But Sharp hopes they will start to produce their best on a regular basis, now they have had that time.

"We are a third of the way into the season and we should all be on the same page now," he said.

"But we feel like we are now. We all believe in what we are doing.

"If we can have a few different plans up our sleeves, we can get the results we need."

More specifically, Sharp says Forest must find a way to get the better of physical sides who stop the Reds from playing their best football. He said: "We have been trying to work on a plan B.

"Middlesbrough played really well at home on television, in the game before they came to play us here.

"Then they came here and did things slightly differently and were really well organised and well drilled in what they were doing.

"They were all on the same page.

"If we can get those kind of things right, we can turn those draws into wins."

Sharp is on loan from Premier League Southampton until the end of the season.

But he says he very much feels part of things at the City Ground.

"I do feel like a Forest player. Everyone from the chef here to the secretary have been brilliant, they have made me feel very welcome," he said.

CARL Froch declared himself a "warrior" and says he only has winning on his mind as he defends his IBF super-middleweight world title on home soil tonight.

The 35-year-old takes on American Yusaf Mack at Nottingham's Capital FM Arena in a showdown being aired on Sky 3D.

During the build-up, Froch has cut a relaxed figure, but now the time for talking is over and it's time for the Cobra to fight, in what could be his final bout in his home city.

"I'm confident and relaxed. I may be a massive odds-on favourite, but he is very, very dangerous," said Froch, who is 1-50 on in places.

"Mack has not had much to say in the build-up. But he has come here to do a job.

"He wants to take my belt back to America. But he is not having it. I'm a warrior. I like to win.

"If I turn up 50 per cent fit then I'm probably going to get beat. It's as simple as that. I can't just take my foot off the gas and think 'Oh, I've got an easy fight'.

"I need to be cute, clever and box behind my jab and just find my feet for the first three or four rounds before I close the distance and start letting some artillery go."

There were boos from the crowd when Mack, the challenger, walked to the scales at the Albert Hall yesterday lunchtime.

Cries of "Who are you?" from the fans turned to gasps when the American was found to be 4oz over and had to strip naked behind a towel to make the weight.

But top trainer Robert McCracken says Froch – who came in 8oz under the 12-stone limit – cannot afford to take any liberties.

"He has to jump on Mack from the start," said McCracken.

"Carl has to match his jab and counter him with right hands, because he is up against a dangerous opponent. Have you been to Philadelphia? It's a tough place."

AS the mother of a world champion, Carol Weatherbed has every right to be proud.

Her son Carl Froch defends his IBF World Super-Middleweight title in Nottingham tonight – and Carol will be ringside as usual.

Carol and Froch's partner, Rachael Cordingley, are the number one cheerleaders for Team Froch.

She has never missed a fight since he turned professional and has travelled all over the world to watch him.

But she admits she doesn't enjoy watching him fight.

In fact, she would have preferred him to quit after his thrilling win over top Canadian Lucian Bute in Nottingham in May.

"I would have been happy if he had retired after the Bute fight," she said. "I don't look forward to his fights any more. I'm just glad when they are over and he is safe.

"What do you expect? I'm his mother. I'm very protective and worry about him.

"It is very hard watching him fight now."

Carol, 57, of Gedling, has followed Carl's boxing career since his amateur days in Nottingham and Newark.

"At the amateur shows, other mothers would fall out with me," she said. "They would come up and say 'Your son made my boy's nose bleed' – things like that.

"Carl was little then, very little for his age. He used to measure himself against the door. He kept a little chart, but when he got to 17 or 18, he suddenly shot up.

"His brother, Wayne, was the same. He went to bed one night 4ft 6in and came down 6ft 4in! It was unbelievable."

Carol vividly recalls the day when Carl had to make a decision about his career.

"He had been out for a spell and then came back into it," she said. "He was at a crossroads but decided boxing was what he wanted.

"A few managers wanted him to turn professional with them. But he met Robert McCracken and they hit it off.

"Frank Warren came up to me and gave me his card and asked me to talk to Carl on his behalf. He said he would listen to his mother.

"No chance. I wasn't interested. I tore the card up."

Carol is not surprised that her son went on to win three world titles.

"He is so driven," she said. "Anything he goes for, he gets in the end. He is very patient, although you would never think it to look at him."

If Carol thought the arrival of her grandson, Rocco, might persuade Carl to hang up his gloves for good she was wrong. "No chance", she sighed. "Carl just loves his boxing. It is in his blood. He has not lost any of his desire.

"He knows he will have plenty of time on his hands when he does retire, so he is living the dream. He cannot imagine not being a boxer."

Froch has had 31 pro fights – and Carol singled out the victory over Jermain Taylor in the US as a highlight.

However, she admitted she didn't see much of the Taylor fight after the third round when Carl was knocked down.

"I was on my knees," she said. "I was devastated when he went down. But I was so proud of him when he stopped him just before the end.

"It is unbelievable what Carl has achieved. I was worried, but it all turned out well. He pulls it out of the bag every time. In my heart of hearts, I knew he would not lose. He was getting stronger the longer the fight went on."

Carol says the Bute fight was also "amazing."

But understandably, she did not enjoy watching her son defeated by Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward.

"Kessler and Bute don't seem to want a re-match," said Carol. "But I definitely don't want to see him fight Ward again. I didn't like him at all, with all his talk of God being on his side.

"He was lucky the referee helped him so much in that fight. He would not have got away with that in England."

What are your memories of Carl Froch? E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

LEE Hughes was Notts County's hero against Scunthorpe United in League One today.

The striker marked his first league start since mid-September with two goals at Glanford Park to rescue a point for the Magpies in a 2-2 draw.

Notts fell 1-0 behind early in the first half as Iron defender Christian Ribeiro scored on 13 minutes.

Lee Hughes headed Notts level just after the half-hour mark, but Keith Curle's side conceded a second goal in injury time at the end of the first half, Scunthorpe midfielder Damien Mozika scoring his first goal of the season.

Lee Hughes then hit a post with a header in the second half, Alan Sheehan had a goal disallowed and Iron captain Paul Reid was sent off before Lee Hughes netted a dramatic late equaliser.

He had replaced Yoann Arquin as the spearhead of the Magpies' attack against the Iron and Sheehan was also restored at left-back, joining Gary Liddle, Dean Leacock and Damion Stewart in defence, in front of goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

Captain Neal Bishop, Andre Boucaud and Jeff Hughes started in midfield and Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Alan Judge flanked Lee Hughes.

Two former Notts players were in the Scunthorpe team.

Goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall made his home debut for the Iron and Karl Hawley started in their attack.

The Magpies dominated possession in the opening stages and Jeff Hughes got a sight of goal on ten minutes, but dragged a shot wide of Mildenhall's left-hand post from 25 yards.

Scunthorpe threatened a minute later as striker Leon Clarke raced onto a pass from Hawley and drove a low shot at goal that Bialkowski held at the second attempt.

Having made a good save to deny the Iron, the Pole then sliced an attempted clearance two minutes later and Notts were punished.

Scunthorpe winger Mark Duffy seized onto the ball and passed to Ribeiro, who swept a low shot beyond Bialkowski and inside his right-hand post from inside the box.

It then took a great tackle by Liddle to stop Duffy on the edge of the penalty area on 17 minutes, after he had counter attacked Notts quickly from a corner.

The Magpies hit back on 22 minutes, Jeff Hughes whipping a cross into the box from the right wing for Lee Hughes, but he directed a header straight at Mildenhall from seven yards.

Campbell-Ryce was then forced off with an injury and was replaced by Arquin, but Notts still equalised on 34 minutes.

Judge was switched to the right wing after Campbell-Ryce's exit and it quickly paid off as he controlled a magnificent long diagonal pass from Boucaud and curled a cross into the box that Lee Hughes headed past Mildenhall from close range.

Having levelled, the Magpies then survived three big scares.

First, Clarke crashed a header against the bar on 41 minutes, Bialkowski then held a close-range attempt from Hawley and it took a last-ditch sliding tackle by Stewart to stop Clarke as he raced into the box soon after.

Notts did concede a second goal in injury time at the end of the first half, however, as Ribeiro swung a cross into the box from the right wing and Mozika swept the ball past Bialkowski.

Trailing for a second time, the Magpies went close to making it 2-2 on 56 minutes.

It was an ingenious moment of skill from Lee Hughes as he flicked a header at goal from Sheehan's free-kick into the box, but it hit Mildenhall's right-hand post.

Notts thought they had equalised on 62 minutes when Sheehan smashed a volley into the bottom-right corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

But their joy was shortlived because Lee Hughes was flagged offside and it was ruled out, though it was unclear if it was because he got a touch on Sheehan's shot or was stood in Mildenhall's line of sight.

Jeff Hughes then tested Mildenhall with a close-range header on 65 minutes.

Scunthorpe were reduced to ten men three minutes later when Reid was sent off following a challenge with Arquin, with Notts players gesturing the defender had elbowed the French striker.

Notts piled the pressure on the Iron's ten men and Lee Hughes netted his second goal to make it 2-2 on 82 minutes, pouncing on a flick-on from a corner and stroking the ball past Mildenhall from close range.

SCUNTHORPE: Mildenhall, Ribeiro, Reid, Canavan, Newey, Duffy, Ryan (Kennedy, 71), Mozika, Barcham, Hawley, Clarke (Ellington, 83). Subs: Slocombe, Grella, Gibbons, Howe, Keegan.

NOTTS: Bialkowski, Liddle, Leacock, D Stewart (Labadie, 74), Sheehan, Boucaud, Bishop, J Hughes (Zoko, 83), Campbell-Ryce (Arquin, 30), Judge, L Hughes. Subs: Mitchell, Bencherif, Mahon, Showunmi.

ATTENDANCE: 4,553.

NOTTINGHAM Forest got their play-off push back on track as an own goal from Miguel Llera decided a closely fought contest with Sheffield Wednesday.

On a day when both sides missed numerous opportunities, the game's decisive moment came as the Spanish defender headed into his own net in the 74th minute.

Forest had failed to win their previous three matches, but pulled themselves back to within a point of the top six as they ground out a battling 1-0 win over the Owls, who had made them defend doggedly at times to preserve their clean sheet.

A frantic start to the game saw both sides carve out numerous chances in the first eight minutes with the only question mark being over how it had remained goalless.

Blackstock, restored to the side with Simon Cox having collected a slight injury on international duty, fed an incisive pass for strike partners Billy Sharp and, while he just failed to get the ball under control, Chris Cohen still headed wide after Greg Halford had swung the ball back into the danger zone.

A poor pass from Elliott Ward gave Gary Madine the chance to run at the Forest defence and force a fine save from Lee Camp, plunging low to his right, with a powerful low shot.

The Forest keeper had to be at his best again as more uncertain defending allowed Jose Semedo to power a shot towards the near post, where Camp produced an even better stop.

Andy Reid was denied by the fine reactions of Chris Kirkland in the Wednesday goal after a swift passing move had taken the Forest winger through on goal, where he attempted to lift a shot over the advancing keeper, who did well to palm away.

Danny Collins had to come up with a vital challenge to deny Jay Bothroyd a shooting chance after the striker had drifted into space on the edge of the box, but Forest hit back immediately again as Sharp produced a neat turn and shot on the edge of the box that was charged down.

Ward almost got caught out when he attempted to nutmeg Bothroyd, despite the fact that he was the last man in the Forest defence. But, again, the home side were a threat on the break and saw a Reid cross come agonisingly close to picking out the run of Sharp towards the far post, before a last ditch interception changed the course of the ball.

Sharp and Blackstock were looking lively, with Sharp then eluding two players down the left and delivering into the centre where Blackstock came close to connecting.

Brendan Moloney produced a goal saving piece of defending after Lewis Buxton seemed to benefit from a generous offside decision to surge down the right flank and deliver into the centre where Bothroyd was waiting to pounce until the Irish defender conjured up a superb challenge to clear.

Jenas broke quickly from midfield, despite referee Andy Woolmer getting a touch on the ball, and saw his effort to curl the ball inside the far post take a deflection for a corner.

Forest were building a short spell of pressure, with Reid delivering an outstanding cross to the far post where Anthony Gardner cleared with a brave header as Blackstock challenged purposefully.

Another good interchange saw Blackstock provide a neat layoff for Sharp, whose shot took a clear deflection on the way wide of the post – but referee Woolmer failed to spot it and awarded a goal kick.

When Cohen swung in a delightful ball from the right, after cutting back on to his left foot, Sharp looked certain to score, but Jenas dived at full stretch and, while managing to get a slight touch on the ball, succeeded only in guiding it away from his team mate.

Nejc Pecnik made a meal of a good chance as Wednesday threatened from one of their numerous first half corners. Forest had generally defended set pieces very well against a tall opposition side. But the Owls man managed to find the space to unleash a powerful shot when the ball dropped to him, which flew narrowly over the bar.

Forest suffered an early blow in the second half when Reid sustained an injury and had to be replaced by Henri Lansbury, while Wednesday made a change of their own as Pecnik was replaced by Jermaine Johnson.

Jenas' first start since re-joining Forest was to last less than an hour as he was replaced by Adlene Guedioura. But it was Lansbury who was to have an immediate impact, as he let fly with a long range shot that Kirkland had to react quickly to save.

While the keeper also did well to hold on to a bending shot from Cohen as Blackstock charged in to pick up any spillages a few yards from goal.

It was the Owls who twice failed to capitalise on outstanding chances however. Firstly, Collins had to make a vital interception on the line after a darting run from Daniel Jones saw him lure Camp off his line before cutting the ball back for Bothroyd to shoot, only for the Forest skipper to head clear.

Michail Antonio then blazed an even better chance high and wide from close range after Forest had failed to clear.

Forest demonstrated the same wasteful habits themselves after Lansbury had exchanged a clever one-two with Blackstock, but then rifled his shot a foot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Guedioura tried his luck with a trademark shot from distance that, with numerous bodies in the box, did cause a nervous moment for the visiting defence, even as it flew well wide of the upright.

Blackstock came within a whisker of snatching a goal when Gillett fed the ball down the centre, but the striker failed to get the important touch that would have steered it beyond Kirkland.

Cohen had been finding the room to fire some telling balls into the box from the Forest right and, when the midfielder loped into space again in the 74th minute, his precision was to play a key role in the opening goal.

With Blackstock and Sharp waiting to pounce in the centre, Llera attempted a desperate headed clearance, at full stretch, which deflected the ball into his own net.

A clever corner routine might have secured a second for Forest, with Cohen having driven the ball powerfully towards the near post where, leaning back slightly, Lansbury lifted his shot over.

With the Owls pushing men forward in search of an equaliser, Sharp almost struck on the break, with Kirkland needing to show quick feet to claim a lofted shot from the striker

Sub Danny Mayor also had Camp looking on with a slight sense of nervousness as he let go with a long range shot that flew only a few feet away from the target.

But, following one of the best passing moves of the game for Forest, Cohen then side-footed a shot inches wide at the other end.

Llera's afternoon was only made worse when, in the 90th minute, he became the first player to be booked, for a foul on Blackstock.

Forest: Camp, Moloney, Ward, Collins, Halford, Gillett, Cohen, Jenas (Guedioura 55), Reid (Lansbury 50), Sharp, Blackstock. Subs: Darlow, Guedioura, McGugan, Cox, Coppinger, Ayala.

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Jones, Llera, Gardner, Barkley, Semedo (Mayor 82), Madine, Antonio, Bothroyd, Pecnik (Johnson 52). Subs: Bywater, Taylor, Mattock, McCabe, Rodri.

Referee: Andy Woolmer

AROUND 250 people are expected to take part in this year's When You Wish Upon a Star Great Nottingham Santa Run to help raise money for poorly kids to visit Lapland.

The run, spread over a 5km circuit around Colwick Park, raises funds for the annual trip to see Santa for around 100 seriously ill children.

Sam Spencer, fundraising assistant at the Basford-based charity, said: "We raise cash for the Lapland trip throughout the year, but this is a really important part of that.

"All the money raised from the Santa Run will go towards the Lapland trip.

"For this one special day the children can forget about their pain and suffering in the excitement of meeting Santa."

The charity aims to grant the wishes of children suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

One of those who was taken to Lapland last year was Max Hill from Mapperley.

The year before he had been diagnosed with leukaemia, spending four months in hospital, and he still has more than a year of treatment to go.

Despite this in the last year he has taken part in the Ikano Robin Hood Mini Marathon and raised £1,300, as he really wanted to send a child and their parent or guardian to Lapland – which costs £800.

Speaking to the Post, Max said: "Going to Lapland was one of the most fantastic experiences of my life – there was just so much snow.

"It was really magical, there were so many reindeer – everywhere you looked you could see reindeer and huskies."

Talking about his fundraising efforts with the 1.5-mile mini marathon, Max said: "I wanted to raise money for that charity because they gave me that time and I wanted to give something back.

"The best thing about going to Lapland was I got to see the real Santa Claus.

"I wanted to raise money so that two more people could experience what I had."

Max actually raised £2,600 by taking part in the run – but gave £1,300 for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

His mother Louise said: "He struggles with his walking because of the chemotherapy.

"It may seem a small amount for us to walk or run but for him it was like doing 10 miles.

"We are enormously proud of him, he's been through so much and he's still going through so much now."

The Santa Run takes place on Sunday, December 2.

There will be a 'festive warm up' with a zumba instructor, plus music and entertainment.

The start time is 10am, and registration starts at 9am.

Entry is £12.50 for adults, which includes a Santa Suit to keep, and £7.50 for children, which includes a Christmas hat to keep.

Entrants will also receive a medal for taking part.

Register at www.thesantarun.org.uk or call 0115 979 1720.

Are you taking part in the santa run? Call our newsdesk on 0115 948 2000 or e-mail us at: newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

PAYING a bit more money to people who struggle to make ends meet sounds like the kind of right-thinking, common sense measure which leaves you standing right up there on the moral high ground.

When you consider how hard it must be to make even the minimum wage cover the weekly bills, bringing in something like a 'living wage' – a pay level which goes beyond just existing – looks like the next step in the long battle to close the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

That's what you'd think, anyway.

However, there is another way of looking at it, and it's this: this is an initiative steeped in pass-the-parcel political cynicism.

If you really, genuinely want to put more money into the pockets of poorer working people then one of the easiest ways to do it would be to take less off them.

In this day and age, of course, with government apparently funding anything extra from coppers it finds in crevasses, taking less tax off the lower paid would mean putting your finger into the pockets of those who earn more.

In the broadest sense, that usually means the middle class because that's where most people are.

Any government which needs to claw back cash will have little choice but to raid their strained piggy banks yet again.

Hold on, though: don't the middle class also represent a massive swathe of voters? Indeed.

So the cynic in me wonders whether that might not be entirely unrelated to some of those behind the campaign for a living wage deciding that it should be businesses that pay it. And that if they don't, the politicians will name and shame them.

Puts a new spin on it, doesn't it?

These bright ideas are never quite as straightforward as they seem, and the other spanner lurking in the works of this seemingly noble initiative is one of the simple laws of economics: the more you have to pay people, the fewer jobs there will be.

This is why well-paid people are a minority we're always jealous of.

Now, I'm not for one moment seeking to suggest that those able to pay more shouldn't do so. Fair's fair, as they say.

But at least some of that extra money they get is because they are better-qualified and, therefore, able to hold down a better-paid job in a higher value activity.

If you start loading cost on to jobs which are either low-skilled or involve producing things which can be made anywhere… that's where they go.

Not good if you're young, unemployed and willing to trade a low wage for a foot on the jobs ladder.

At which point you might conclude that a living wage is a great thing to aim for, but may be harder to achieve than we think.

So how come some pretty big businesses have thrown their weight behind this campaign?

Well, ask yourself this question: what proportion of their workforce is on the minimum wage? Not a lot, is the likely answer.

So, the politicians can make noble speeches, they can wag fingers and name and shame.

It probably looks good on TV when they do. Whether it makes that TV any more affordable is another matter.

RESIDENTS are being moved out of a West Bridgford care home which is closing.

The owners of Abelard Care Home, in Musters Road, say they are shutting the home on December 5, as it is no longer profitable.

The 22 residents are being found new places to live, while 32 staff face losing their jobs.

Manager Nadine Pretheroe said: "All residents are finding new homes. We brought the residents' Christmas forward and served Christmas dinner and gave out presents. Staff were there looking after them, and will be until the end.

"Anybody who gets my staff will be lucky to have them."

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) issued the home's owner with a formal warning to improve staffing levels following an inspection on September 17. A report published by the CQC this month showed inspectors found there were insufficient numbers of qualified staff employed to meet the needs of residents. Inspectors saw a resident struggling with food for nearly an hour at lunchtime without assistance from staff.

The warning notice was lifted last month after the home employed more staff.

Ms Pretheroe said the results of the inspection had nothing to do with why the home is closing. She added: "The reason it's closing is that it's just not making any money.

"Standards are much higher and the CQC is requiring us to put on more staff. We have increased staffing levels and we cannot keep going financially.

"Over the past couple of years there has been less and less referrals."

Keith Rooks' mum, Audrey, 72, has lived at Abelard for six years. He said she will be moving to a nursing home in Radcliffe-on-Trent today.

Mr Rooks, 44, of Wollaton, said: "It's such a shame and a waste it's closing. There are people's livelihoods at stake and upheaval for the residents.

"We have no problem with the quality of care. Mum is among friends and has a great working relationship with staff. It's such a much-needed facility that is going to bite the dust."

Administrator Maureen Swann, who has worked at the home for 12 years, said: "It's put 32 of us out of work."

David Hamilton, director for care and support for older people at Notts County Council, said: "We are working to find new care home places which meet the needs of the residents."

A BOY with a brain tumour has raised £10,000 for charity – a year ahead of his target.

Toby Nadal, 16, of Highfields Drive, Bilsthorpe, was diagnosed in 2010 after complaining of a headache. Doctors have said it would be too risky to remove the tumour.

It will grow and eventually put pressure on his brain, which could cause him to lose the ability to walk.

The teenager, who goes to the Minster School in Southwell, started to raise cash for the Teenage Cancer Trust last December, aiming to raise the total amount over two years.

"It only sunk in the other day that we've raised everything a year early," Toby said.

"I'm really pleased and also so grateful for all the support I've received from people who didn't even know me."

Toby has been putting on a range of fundraising events, including bake sales, fun days, and events at the school such as a disco, an enterprise week and a talent show. He has had help from parents of children at Southwell Holy Trinity Infant School, where his mum, Dianne, 48, works.

"It's amazing how they've just all helped me, without knowing me," Toby added.

Toby is now preparing for his next fund-raiser – the Land's End to John O'Groats Cycle Challenge next July. "I've been preparing by going on long-distance bike rides, but also doing core strength exercises, and playing basketball.

"I'm aiming to do the 1,000 miles in 14 days and I'm confident I can do it."

Mrs Nadal, 47, said raising the money had enabled her son to take his mind off his diagnosis. "He has managed to turn something negative into something very positive," she said.

"Being diagnosed with a brain tumour is a big thing for a young person to deal with.

"He knows there are people who are a lot worse off than him, so he wants to do something to help for as long as he can. We don't know how long he has. Doctors were unable to give us a time scale."

She added: "The fundraising has been brilliant. We are all delighted. We are fortunate to have had match funding by Barclays bank, who donated £750."

Toby's dad, Tim, 51, and sister Jody, 20, have helped with the fund-raising campaign.

For more information, call 01623 870979 or e-mail d.nadal@tiscali.co.uk.

Are you affected by this story? Call our newsdesk on 0115 948 2000 or e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup. co.uk

PLANS to open a new Starbucks near Nottingham railway station are being opposed in the area.

Nottingham City Council reported that the Bentinck Hotel, at the corner of Station Street and Carrington Street, is to be turned into a coffee shop.

It has already granted planning permission for internal alterations, new entrance doors and windows and now Starbucks has submitted plans to put signs up.

Under the plans the hotel, which has a pub on the ground floor, would still operate as a hotel on the upper three floors but the bar would be converted into a coffee shop.

But Wendy Baird, owner of the Picnic Basket café in Carrington Street, said she was worried about the number of chains that are springing up in the road.

"I am concerned," she said.

"I feel a bit browbeaten to be honest. Over the past few years there's been a bit of an assault on Carrington Street – we've got Tesco, Gregg's, Subway and now Sainsbury's.

"I find it really hard to figure out what the council want the city centre to look like, they're on a road to ruin independence.

"You can go to any city centre these days and they all look identical. We don't have funds like the big names.

"We have to find different ways to hold our own, luckily the people of Nottingham keep supporting us."

The Post was unable to contact Starbucks or the Bentinck Hotel, so it is not yet known exactly when work could begin on the shop.

However, further plans have now been submitted to the council requesting permission for signs to be placed outside the building.

Local residents also questioned whether the city needed another coffee chain.

Brad Loxley, 21 of Bute Avenue in Lenton, said: "I think there's too many Starbucks already. I wouldn't drink at them.

"Nottingham's got quite a good independent café scene."

And Beth Steed, 22, of Colville Street in the city centre, said: "It might be nicer to have a nice bar there instead, like you have at St Pancras."

She said she would rather stop for a coffee at Hopkinson vintage shop which has a coffee bar and café in Station Street, although she admitted Starbucks might be more popular for busy commuters.

Meanwhile, Lynne Connolly, who works at Hopkinson, said she did not think Starbucks would necessarily affect their trade.

"People come here for the nice atmosphere," she said.

"It's completely different to Starbucks.

"Any new business is bringing footfall to us regardless. We're not just a café, it's an antique centre."

Are you affected by this story? Call our newsdesk on 0115 9482000 or e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup. co.uk

A NOTTS football club says it is devastated after insurers refused a £9,000 claim after a break-in.

Carlton Town FC, based in Stoke Lane, Gedling, was broken into on Friday, August 3. Troy Jenkins, 38, of Lenton, and James Welsh, 37, of Dunkirk, both pleaded guilty to theft, after they were caught on the club's CCTV cameras.

They were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on September 4. Jenkins received a three-year prison sentence and Welsh got 18 months after the club was ransacked, stock taken from the bar, pool tables and quiz machines smashed and sockets ripped from walls.

A new kit and a charity box were also stolen. The club wanted to claim £9,000 from its insurers Everest Underwriting, expecting a payout of £8,000 following excess. But the firm rejected the claim. It argued that because the club's nominated contact person for the alarm system was in Wales when the burglary happened he was unable to take "reasonable precautions" to safeguard the property.

Club chairman Mick Garton said: "I was pretty low after the incident itself, but this has just rubbed salt into the wounds.

"The fact the criminals are behind bars and unable to rob other properties means we have saved other insurance payouts which would no doubt have followed if they had continued with their crime spree.

"The fact they were caught due to our fantastic CCTV system, which is not even an insurance condition, makes the decision even harder to accept. We have been devastated by this. We are mostly made up of volunteers at the club who put in our own time and money. We are a community football club.

"We are left in a position where we have got to work harder than we already do to try to raise money to pay invoices.''

Mr Garton said the club had appealed against the decision but was told it had been rejected. Commercial manager Tim Harris said: "In 20 years involved in football, this is the most devastating decision I can remember. It's difficult enough trying to raise money in this economic climate and now having to make up this shortfall, I can't quite believe it."

Everest said in its letter that the intruders had cut the alarm line, prompting a call to Bob Sharpe, the club's nominated keyholder, at 11.20pm.

They say Mr Sharpe, who checked CCTV images on his phone in Wales, should have attended the club site immediately and could have prevented further damage.

They say because he had failed to do so he was in breach of general condition 10, which "stipulates that all reasonable precautions should be taken to safeguard the property and mitigate loss."

No one from Everest was available for comment.

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MULTIPLE retailers will have to slash the number of their nationwide stores if they are to survive, according to a retail expert from international accountants Deloitte.

Vijay Thakrar says the cut will reflect not only the impact of the double dip recession on Britain's high streets and retail parks but also that more consumers are shopping online.

Going shopping is now a leisure activity, said Mr Thakrar, and this is reflected in Capital Shopping Centres' thinking for Nottingham's Broadmarsh Centre refurbishment, which might include cinemas.

Mr Thakrar said shopping was increasingly becoming part of a family's day out which included other activities such as taking in a film.

"It can be out of town, like America, or on the high street," he said.

The pattern was becoming clearer as retailers increasingly fought for customers and their money.

While firms like Comet and JJB called in administrators, department store group John Lewis were doing well given the state of the economy.

"They continue to have growth year on year," he said.

"The product offer is right, the pricing is right.

"However, where the product offer isn't right or it is a very competitive environment, then there will be casualties."

Mr Thakrar said the high street was over shopped and shoppers were much more demanding.

"Money is in short supply so people want the right product at the right price in an environment they enjoy shopping in. That makes it very competitive.

"Nevertheless, I am optimistic about the future. People will need fewer stores but they will make that up by shopping online.

"The VAT increase of two years ago is out of the way. A lot of tax increases have filtered through the system.

"This means there is more consumer spending power in the economy but households are very cautious, discerning and only spend where they want to.

"People are paying off debt, saving or just being cautious.

"But there is definitely more money about subject to energy and fuel prices which can take money out of people's pockets very easily."

Mr Thakrar said that smaller towns might return to boutique shops and leisure uses as big retail names concentrated on cities.

"Independents struggle in city centres because of high rents and rates," he said.

How to get independents into city centres to add interest to the high street was a challenge, he added.

Mr Thakrar said it was worthwhile for landlords to look at offering preferential terms for three to five years to independents trying to open on the high street.

Landlords may have shareholders to answer to but local authorities did not.

He added: "If we, the public, want these independent retailers, should they have a different regime for rates to get them established? That would attract people back."

Car parking charges have proved a difficult issue for traders in Nottingham.

The city council pushed up charges in the evening and later backtracked.

"Car parking regimes and access to city centres has to be friendlier, allowing consumers in and out more easily.

"It can cost as much to park as it does to take a family out for a meal, so people look at going out of town."

He urged local authorities to look at helping retailers by giving free parking on specific times and days of the week.

But this had to be balanced against a wish to reduce pollution by introducing more park and ride.

"City centres need managing like shopping centres and retailers should be involved," he said.

A COUPLE who have held a craft fair in their house every Christmas since their daughter was diagnosed with cancer ten years ago, hope the latest one will be the biggest yet.

Carolyn and Derek Smith, of Franklyn Gardens, Aspley, have raised £10,902 over the past nine years for Cancer Research UK and Hayward House, a specialist palliative care cancer unit at Nottingham City Hospital.

"It started off as just a coffee morning," said Mrs Smith.

"I do lots of crafts, I make cards, sew and knit, we had a stall in the house. The first year we raised £610 and it's gone up and up every year since."

The couple lost their daughter Rebecca Davys, 37, six years ago to cancer.

"It was all so horrendous at the time," said Mrs Smith.

"She did help at one of them but then she became too ill to help. All our friends and family rallied around us."

On Saturday their home, off Western Boulevard, will be transformed. There will be a marquee in the garden as well as stalls in the house and a Santa's grotto outside.

People can buy handmade Christmas cards and novelty craft gifts that have been knitted, sewed or cross-stitched. There will be a stall selling cakes and preserves. Mrs Smith, 64, said: "It's snowballed. My husband and I still do most things but over the years different people have got involved. There's a whole team of people now who sew and knit and give tombola prizes and help out on the day."

Last year the event raised £2,800 and this year the pair hope to raise more than £3,000. Most of the cash is donated to Cancer Research UK, but last year they also gave £300 to Hayward House. Mrs Smith said: "Hayward House were so good to Rebecca, she spent several periods of time there."

This year's event could be the last one. Mrs Smith, a member of Nuthall and Kimberley Cancer Research UK committee, said: "We thought it's got as big as it gets. We thought we would have a grand one this year and try something different next year, like maybe a Ploughman's in the garden in the summer.

"But we shall carry on fund-raising in the same way."

She thanked family and friends who have helped over the years.

"We wouldn't be able to put this on and raise this amount. We've got the most wonderful group of family and friends that help," she added.

Speaking about cancer, she said: "It is something that touches so many lives in one way or another, there's still so much to be done."

Are you holding a fund-raising event? Call our newsdesk on 0115 9482000 or e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup. co.uk

A NOTTS pensioner says he feels robbed of a year of his life after a knee replacement left him struggling to walk and in constant agony.

Retired engineer Cyril Mundy, of Rainworth, had to undergo the trauma of having a second knee replacement due to the issues he faced.

The 71-year-old, who had the initial surgery at Rotherham Hospital, has now been awarded a five-figure payout from Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust after specialist medical negligence solicitors at law firm JMW challenged the care provided to him.

However, after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, or cancer of the bone marrow, Mr Mundy is outraged that a year of his life was spent in suffering and wants to warn others of the nightmare he faced.

Mr Mundy, who is married to Maria, 61, said: "Months later I was left in so much pain that I could not even walk around Tesco.

"I am absolutely appalled by the outcome of the operation – my quality of life was severely affected and my wife essentially became my carer.

"At one point I told my GP that I would rather have my leg amputated than be in so much pain.

"That is a year of my life that I will never get back and with my current health problems that is a huge concern for me."

Melissa Gardner, a medical negligence lawyer at JMW Solicitors, took on Mr Mundy's case after investigating the care provided to him and having concerns about the standard of the surgery.

It was later alleged that some of the cuts to his bones were not done correctly and that the replacement knee joint was the wrong size, among other things.

While the trust has never admitted that it made mistakes with the surgery, it agreed a payout to Mr Mundy for his pain and suffering.

Ms Gardner said: "The distress that a painful knee joint can cause can never be underestimated and in Cyril's case this meant some aspects of daily living were a constant struggle. After investigating the surgery we found several areas of concern and we hope that hospital managers will look closely at these."

Mr Mundy was first referred for a right knee replacement at Rotherham Hospital in August 2009.

Following the operation his recovery went as expected and he was on crutches for three to four weeks.

However days after starting physiotherapy he began to experience pain so intense that he could hardly put his foot on the floor.

Over coming weeks this worsened and Mr Mundy could not sleep for the pain, discomfort and anguish, and could hardly walk.

He eventually underwent revision surgery at Barlborough Treatment Centre, in Chesterfield, in July 2010 and the pain in his right knee immediately disappeared.

A spokesperson for the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust said: "The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust is pleased that settlement was reached amicably in this case without an admission of liability and wishes Mr Mundy all the best for the future."

AN elderly man died after he was involved in a road accident with a meals-on-wheels van in a Ruddington street.

Notts Police said Dennis Elliott died of his injuries in hospital four days after he was hurt last Friday in Elms Park.

One woman living near the scene said the accident happened while the 85-year-old had been out walking.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: "It's very sad. My son helped him after it happened and was very upset when he heard he'd died."

She added: "I didn't see it but my son came in and got a blanket and put it over him and was speaking to him.

"I think the woman driving the van phoned for the ambulance and was bending over the man.

"She was very upset.

"My son did everything he could for him, which is what anyone would do."

Notts Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision, which happened at about 1.30pm.

Officers said Mr Elliott, who lived in Ruddington, was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre after the incident.

He died on Tuesday as a result of his injuries.

Elaine Coupland, team manager for Notts County Council's Meals At Home Service, said: "A meals delivery vehicle was involved in an accident with Mr Dennis Elliott, of Ruddington, while on a normal delivery round last Friday. The accident took place at Elms Park and we heard the sad news that Mr Elliott had died on Wednesday.

"The police are carrying out an investigation so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to call the Crash Investigation Team on 101, extension 8002225, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Are you affected by this story? Call our newsdesk on 0115 9482000 or e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

CHRISTMAS came early for Carl Froch at the Capital FM Arena on Saturday night as he crushed tough American Yusaf Mack inside three rounds to retain his IBF super-middleweight world title.

Those critics who said Froch was in for an early, easy night, were proved right in the end. But don't begrudge him that. After all, he was due one after all his punishing battles on the road in Denmark, Finland and America.

To be fair, I can't think many true boxing fans went home feeling short-changed after Froch's three-round demolition job on the man who had come all the way from Philadelphia to take a beating.

It was still a spectacle. The atmosphere inside the packed Arena was, as they say, 'electric'. Only 60 tickets were returned on the night and they were quickly snapped up as Froch fever gripped the city – perhaps for the very last time.

There were unsporting boos for the challenger as he made his entrance at the back of the hall at 10.50pm, followed by the obligatory chants of "Who are yer? Who are yer?" and "Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottingham".

Mack, so reserved in the lead up to the fight, seemed to soak it all up. He was smiling, dancing on the spot and even orchestrating the crowd at one stage.

Then the master of ceremonies John McDonald led the 10-9-8 countdown to Froch's appearance. His name came up in lights, the 'Hall of Fame' ring entrance music blared out and the shadow-boxing Cobra appeared to a huge roar.

He soaked up the atmosphere and adulation, milked it if you like, and then slowly made his way to the ring for the pre-fight formalities.

Then a moment of comedy. McDonald called for quiet and respect while the national anthems were played. Everyone stood for a couple of minutes in silence. Nothing happened. Technical hitch. Never mind. On with the show.

"This is Nottingham, England" bellowed McDonald, relishing the occasion, as the fight went live round the world.

Froch, looking incredibly relaxed, got last-minute instructions from his guru, GB coach Robert McCracken, while Mack, who had been pacing the ring like a caged tiger, looked apprehensive and with good reason.

But it only takes one punch and Froch, with his belt and future at stake, was taking no chances.

He made a cautious start, but landed the first meaningful blows.

There were pre-fight question marks over whether Mack would be drained after coming down from light-heavyweight. Whether he would have the power to trouble the champion. He may have been stepping down in weight, but he was stepping up in class.

Froch, just crowned Britain's Boxer of the Year, answered those questions in emphatic style.

Mack had to strip naked to make the weight and Froch laid him bare again with a devastating display.

He had Mack down with a head shot that caught him stumbling back. It didn't catch him cleanly, but he still took a count of eight.

Mack looked shell-shocked, the proverbial rabbit in the headlights as the crowd chanted "Easy, Easy".

Mack survived. But it was only a brief respite. Froch opened the second round with stiff jabs and then piled into Mack on the ropes, but left it too late to finish him off.

But the 9,500 crowd didn't have to wait long for the big finish, however. A two-fisted attack had the challenger in trouble again.

Then, Froch unleashed a classic right to the jaw and a punishing blow to the ribs. It was all over bar the counting.

Mack was counted out on his knees, forehead touching the floor.

To be fair, Mack, with a posse of kids back home to feed, didn't come to roll over.

But that's just what he did in the end, left wincing with pain and gasping for breath after just 2:30 of the third round. Paramedics jumped in but Mack recovered quite quickly.

Froch's team and family also jumped into the ring to celebrate with a beaming Cobra and the Arena went wild.

"The crowd in Nottingham is unbelievable," said Froch.

"I was a bit cautious at first but I soon found my range. There's always a chance in a two-horse race but Mack never had much chance.

"If he had got any success early on, he would have soon gained in confidence. I took the fight away from him straight away; I was catching him with some heavy shots.

"He stayed in range and didn't move as much as I thought he would. You can't say he was just here to survive because if you look at his previous 37 fights, he has only lost to world champions.

"So I had to prepare as meticulously for this fight, as I do for anybody else."

Earlier, Liverpool light-heavyweight Tony Bellew cleverly nursed an horrendous cut above his right eye to outpoint Roberto Bolonti 120-106, 119-107, 120-106 and take the WBC Silver light-heavyweight belt. The brave Argentinian. ranked No.5 by the WBC, was down twice.

But Bellew had top cuts man Mick Williamson to thank, because some referees would have stopped the fight. The gash was that bad.

Bellew fancies a crack at Chad Dawson next, but he will have to wait because the cut, caused by a short, slashing hook, will require plastic surgery.

Another Liverpudlian, Callum Smith, recorded a win on his professional debut.

The classy super-middleweight easily brushed aside Dan Blackwell 40-36 and looks to have a bright future.

It's probably a good job that Strelley's Jason Booth turned down a fight with unbeaten Kal Yafai, who stopped poor Pio Nettuno with a rib shot after just 52 seconds.

The Italian complained but there is no point jumping up after the count of ten has finished.

How Miguel Aguilar survived eight rounds against Scotty Cardle remains a mystery, but survive he did.

Aguilar was twice deducted points by referee Shaun Messer for holding – he was actually clinging to the ropes like a limpet and had to be prised off – and use of the elbow.

Try as he might the unbeaten Cardle had to settle for a shut-out 80-70 points victory in the end.

Other results: Martin J Ward bt Dan Carr 40-36; Kerry Hope bt Norbert Szekeres 60-53; Konrad Dabrowski bt Kristain Laight 39-38.