WHY can't more professional footballers be like Chris Cohen? I cannot find the words to sum up how refreshing his attitude is.

Seeing him sign a new long-term contract at Nottingham Forest was good news in itself.

But when I heard him explain exactly why he was so happy to do so, I found myself being cast back in time 20 years.

Because I didn't believe there were any men like him left in the game.

His previous deal was set to expire this coming summer and he could have walked away for nothing.

He could have pocketed a hefty signing on fee and a pay rise by moving to another club on a free transfer.

There would have been Premier League clubs ready to take him, without question.

But he says he did not want that. He is not that type of person.

Oh no, he wanted to stay at Forest because he likes it here, he wants to be part of things. He believes they can win promotion and he hopes to have a role in that.

That is music to your ears. Because, I'll be honest, I could not have blamed him if he had opted to see what was on the table next summer. Football is a short career and you need to look after your family.

There may well be others who do opt to go down that route over the next few months and you will not catch me criticising them if they do.

But I hope Cohen's actions can inspire the likes of Lee Camp, Dexter Blackstock, Andy Reid and Lewis McGugan.

If they were considering letting their contracts run out at the end of the season, hopefully seeing Cohen put pen to paper might be food for thought.

Hopefully seeing one of the club's big assets commit his future to the City Ground might persuade them that is the right thing to do as well.

And at least the club are being proactive. The new owners are clearly keen to ensure there is no repeat of last season, when Luke Chambers, Joel Lynch and Garath McCleary all walked away from Forest for nothing.

If you thought that was bad, consider this… how much would it cost to replace Blackstock, McGugan, Reid and Camp?

Forest have spent big in the summer on bringing in the likes of Simon Cox, Henri Lansbury, Danny Collins and others, among a dozen hugely encouraging additions.

But the Al Hasawi family are clearly also committed to making sure they do not lose any of the players who are already established at the club. At least not without a fight.

Seeing Cohen sign will be a big lift. Now, if they could persuade one or two of the others to do the same it would be a timely boost, following a start to the season that has been a little frustrating – but not unexpectedly.

There have been a few rumblings of discontent among supporters. Not too many, perhaps, but a few at least.

But, if you give Forest time, they will come good. They will improve. I'm convinced they are still on course for a top-six finish.

It was always going to take time for so many new additions, a new manager and a new style of play to find their feet; to gel as one unit.

But things are coming together. They were unlucky not to beat Blackburn and they could have secured a far more emphatic win over Peterborough. They are improving all the time.

Bolton sacked Owen Coyle after ten matches, which was harsh given the dignity with which he handled difficult, emotional events last season, following Fabrice Muamba's collapse. Ten matches is not enough time to write off a team's chances over the course of an entire season.

As long as Forest are still within touching distance of the leaders come Christmas, I would have no concerns at all.

In the past, when the club has needed to invest in the January window just to get them over the finishing line, it has not happened.

You suspect that, if they are in with a shout this time around, that will not be an issue. But let's wait until Christmas to judge the qualities of this side. I predict there will be plenty of cause for festive cheer.

REGULAR readers of this column will know that few people will be happier than me to see the new £100m England training centre in Burton up and running.

We have been crying out for these facilities for years; to make our players the best they can be and provide solid foundations for the coaches of the future.

I have never understood why it has taken so long to go down this road – but let's not complain now that we have.

But, while it is fantastic that we are doing everything we can to make our future footballers as good as they can be on the pitch, I fear it will not count for much until we work harder to make them more decent people off it.

The sight of Ashley Cole laughing and joking with Prince William as the new centre was opened this week just summed up everything that is wrong with the sport at the minute.

If I called the editor of the Post what Cole labelled the heads of the FA, I would expect to be sacked. The same applies to my bosses at Sky.

To most normal people, abusing the hierarchy and expecting to get away with it is just not an option. But modern footballers continue to believe they are untouchable. There is a reason for that – it is because, at the moment, they are.

We are talking about a player who once brought an air gun in to work, which ended up with somebody getting shot. You might have thought he would have learned a lesson from that.

You might have believed that the whole John Terry race trial, which he played an integral part in, might have persuaded him of the merits of keeping a low public profile for a while. But no, his response was to lash out in public. And why not? Because what could happen to persuade him that it was a bad idea? He knew there would be no ramifications.

Even if he is hit with a £200,000 fine, it will not make a single bit of difference to his life. Not one bit.

The only thing that would make any difference to him is if he was banned from playing for a few games. As it is, he might well sit out the game against San Marino, purely because he is not needed, he could do with a rest.

But he will be back to face Poland. Just wait and see.

The sad fact is that we can spend a billion pounds on facilities. But, until we can persuade our top players that there is a price to pay for acting like an idiot, then it will count for nothing.

Cole's fine might claw back some of the cost of the new facilities. But the fact he was there to enjoy them with the rest of the squad this week, for me, just sends out entirely the wrong message.

Tomorrow

npower League 1: Preston v Milton Keynes Dons, Shrewsbury v Walsall

Sunday Senior Trophy round two: Bilsthorpe Celticv Green Dragon, Carlton Top Spot v Attenborough Cavaliers, Clumber v T8's, SPS Training v R.H.P. Sports & Social, Old Colonial v Priory, Mellish v Nuthall, The New Welfare v March Hare, A.S. Plant United v Robin Hood

Sunday Intermediate Cup round two: Bilsthorpe United v Station Hotel, Stratford Haven v Mansfield Athletic, East Leake Bantams v Wolds, Burton Joyce v Vernon Villa, Farndon United v Farnsfield Villa, Smith Street Sorted v Wollaton Pirates, Nottingham Rangers v Premiere Travel, Woodhouse Colts v The Arrow.

Notts Sunday League

Premier Premier: Gedling Inn v Trowsers, Plough Barflys v Trentside

Premier One: L.A. FC v Loft in Space

Premier Two: County NALGO v Premium, Edwalton v The Crown Inn, The Masons v Rempstone

Senior One: Birchover Park v Nottingham Pirates, Lenton Villa v Nottingham Maintenance, Real Nottingham v Beeston.Biz, Top Valley United v Stratford Haven Res, Tricolore v Digica

Senior Two: Bridgford Taverners v Eastwood & Kimberley FC, Burton Joyce B v Top Valley, Carlton Top Spot Res v Sporting CBJ, Dovecrest v Sparta, Nottingham Breakdown Ltd v Edwalton Res, Premium Res v The Empire Hucknall

Senior Three: Beeston Biz Res v East Bridgford, Crusader v Ark Athletic, Eastwood and Kimberley Res v East Bridgford Rangers, Heath Hill v The Castle Inn, Medina v Bilborough Rangers, Trent Bridgford Tigers v Ryedale

EMPAL

Division One: Cropwell United v Nottingham United, Crown Inn (Beeston) v Fox & Crown, Elwes Arms v Nottingham Medics A, Plumtree FC v Olympico, RDNG United v Freeman & Mitchell

Division Two: Arnold Old Boys v Fanzines United, Boots Wednesday v Cotgrave (Sunday), Brooks Villa v Clifton Dynamo, Caythorpe v Priory Celtic, Nottingham Law School v Inn The Bank, Notts Athletic v Fat Cat

Division Three: AFC Southside v Manvers Arms, New Inn Eastwood v Butler Benfica, Queen's City v Nottingham Medics B, Warren v AC Calverton

Notts Combination

Premier: Athletico T8 v AFC Pelican, Hilltop Castle v Phoenix Athletic, M.I.S United v Cema

Division One: AFC Nottingham v Optima, AFC Rolls Royce v Park Tavern, Blacks Head v South Notts Spartans, Sporting Wheelbarrow v Bear FC

Division Two: Broad Oak v Southbank, Kimberley MW v Redhill, La Toque v Gremio, N.C.H v Nuthall County, Notts United v Sherwood Chestnut Tree, Southglade Park v Pure

Division Three: AC Nottingham v The Vale, H20 FC v D.H Simpson, Medz FC v Arnold Victory, Rose and Crown v Aspley United, Whitemoor v Real United

Newark Alliance

Premier: Coddington v Newark Town, Collingham v Grove, Gunthorpe v Claypole, Newark Flowserve v Barnstone Celtics, Talbot Inn v Wheatsheaf United

Division One: Fiskerton v RHP Social Reserves, Laxton Athletic v Farndon United Reserves, Sutton On Trent v Holy Trinity, The Villa v Castle Barge 95, Wheatsheaf United Reserves v Rose and Crown

Division Two: Fernwood v Rutland Arms Rovers, Holy Trinity Reserves v Knowhow United, Motonation v White Swan, Newark Cavaliers v Belams Flowserve, RHP Social A v Collingham Reserves

Alfreton Sunday

Division One: AFC South Normanton v Crib, Codnor Miners Arms v Amber Athletic, Coronation Club v Jacksdale MW, Hayloft v Marlpool White Lion, Shirland MW v Rainbow Int

Division Two: Blackwell MW v Out of Town, Duffield Dynamos v Holly Bush, Heanor Staff Railway (Pinxton) v Holmewood Gallows Inn, Ripley White Lion v Derby Madrid

Division Three: Alfreton Miners Arms v Gladiators FC, Bulls Head v Boundary Ath, Hilcote MW v Heanor Staff Reserves, Jacksdale Social Club v Marlpool Utd, Selston Bull & Butcher v Alliance Healthcare

Long Eaton Sunday

Premier: Aston on Trent v Spanish Bar, Chilwell v Charlton Arms, Corner Pin v Cat & Fiddle, Ilson Athletic v Sherwin, Soldiers & Sailors v Athletica

Division One: Awsworth Villa v Brennans, Chilwell Res v AFC Kirk Hallam, FC Wilmot v Copsey Croft, Mapperley v Stanton Ilkeston, Riverside v Ockbrook, Sawley Athletic v Queens Counsel

Division Two: AFC Westernmere v Bulls Head, FC Stumble v Beeston Victory Club, Lovell v Independiente, Stanton Ilkeston Res v Beeston Town, Toton Town v Long Eaton GBM, West Park v Shardlow St James

Division Three: Bull & Bush v Grange Park, Bulls Head Res v Erewash 2012, Inham Celtic v Long Eaton SI, Long Eaton Magpies v AFC Kimberley, Needlemakers Arms v Stenson, Shardlow St James Res v West Hallam, Sherwin Arms v Bass House

TIMOTHY Sobers, 33, of Salford Gardens, St Ann's, denied using a VW Golf in Nottingham without insurance on September 27. Nottingham magistrates adjourned the case until November 14 to consider if there are special reasons for not ordering an endorsement or disqualification.

SHAMAS Khan , 21, of Brookside Avenue, Wollaton, was fined £400 for using a Vauxhall Corsa without insurance in Nottingham on October 15 last year. He pleaded guilty by post at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. He is also required to pay a £15 victim surcharge and court costs of £35. His licence will be endorsed with seven penalty points.

LISA Shaw, 22, of Downing Gardens, Bulwell, admitted assaulting two police constables in Radford on July 17 this year. Magistrates in Nottingham adjourned her case until October 25 and granted unconditional bail.

SAMMIE Forry , 20, of Thorold Close, Clifton, denied assaulting a policewoman and criminal damage to an ear piece belonging to Notts Police. Nottingham Magistrates heard she allegedly committed the offences on July 25 in Clifton. She has been given unconditional bail until November 20.

SAM Van Hoang , 46, of no fixed address, has been accused of producing 412 cannabis plants in Nottingham on September 28 this year and of going to Rossington Road, Sneinton, with intent to steal on the same date. Magistrates remanded him in custody until October 30.

DANIEL Wheatcroft, 21, of College Close, Newark, was fined £200 for drink-driving. Magistrates heard he was using a Peugeot moped in Elizabeth Road, Newark, when he had 67 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35. The offence happened on September 8 this year, and he entered his plea to drink-driving at court on September 14. As well as the fine, he is required to pay a £15 victim surcharge. He was banned from driving for 17 months. His guilty plea was taken into account when imposing sentence. No order was made for costs due to lack of means. No separate penalty was imposed for a second offence of driving the moped with no licence, which he also admitted.

CHEYENNE Robinson, 48, of Sketchley Street, St Ann's, is charged with possessing cocaine in Nottingham on October 1 this year. He was remanded in custody until November 6.

BILLY Marriss , 19, of Rosecroft Drive, in the Edwards Lane Estate in Bestwood, faces a series of allegations. He denies being drunk and disorderly in Oakford Close, Broxtowe Estate, and assaulting two police officers on May 5. He is on conditional bail to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on November 9 for trial.

THE dream move was to Leeds United and their manager was Brian Clough. Brian had been at Leeds just over three weeks when he offered Derby £125,000 for both John O'Hare and I.

The chance to team up with him again at a club which had won the League Championship the previous season was too good an opportunity for us to turn down.

I was well aware that Leeds had the famous midfield duo of Billy Bremner and Johnny Giles pulling the strings but Brian pointed out that neither of them were getting any younger.

I knew that with Cloughie in charge I would get a fair chance to show what I could do and it was up to me to impress.

What I didn't know at the time I put pen to paper on a contract which gave me a small increase on the money I had been earning at Derby, was that I was about to walk into an atmosphere that at times you could have cut with a knife.

I wasn't aware of what Brian had said and done with the players but it soon became clear that he wasn't exactly flavour of the month with nay of them, or indeed with anyone associated with the club.

The supporters hated him, the players who he had so often castigated in the press wouldn't accept him, while even the office staff's response fell just short of open hostility.

There was a distinct anti-Clough feel about the place, so having two of his former players coming into the club was hardly likely to go down too well. He upset the whole group by having a jibe at Eddie Gray, telling him that if he had been a racehorse he'd have been put down years ago.

Just to add insult to injury he then went on to tell that, despite all the cups and titles they had won, they could throw all their medals in the bin because they hadn't won them fairly.

Things might have been different if we had been winning.

We could only manage a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Luton. It turned out to be my last appearance at Elland Road and I was crucified by the crowd. It was something that had happened to me with a section of the supporters at Derby. It was not a pleasant experience.

A late equaliser from Peter Lorimer saved the side's blushes at Huddersfield.

Two days later Brian Clough was no longer manager.

He had been sacked and as part of his settlement he had managed to secure a six-figure sum after tax, and keep the Mercedes car the club had given him. It was a huge settlement in those days and probably set him up for life financially.

After 44 days in charge of the club he walked away with a fortune, but his reputation and ego had taken a serious knock, there was no doubt about that.

As for me, after 25 days I found myself at a club whose fans clearly couldn't stand me, with players who saw me very much as a Clough signing.

SEAN O'Driscoll believes the positive attitude of Nottingham Forest fans has already helped his side secure more Championship points this season.

And the Reds manager today challenged his players to ensure they maintain the backing of their supporters by demonstrating the right attitude on the pitch.

O'Driscoll highlighted the game against Birmingham as being a prime example of how fans can play a positive role, as Forest fought back from 2-0 down to claim a point amid a partisan atmosphere at the City Ground.

But he also believes it is down to the players to earn the backing from the stands.

"When we were 2-0 down against Birmingham, the crowd actually lifted the team. You do not see that too often," said O'Driscoll.

"The team responded to that.

"I said at half time against Blackburn that there were 18,000 people out there who want to see us do well.

"You can sense that. We do not want to disappointment and, if we do have to disappoint them, let's do it in a way where they can at least see that we have given it a go.

"And by that I do not mean that we have ran around and crashed into tackles.

"I am talking about being brave and doing things how we want to do them.

"We did that in the second half in that game and, if we can do that in every game, people will stick with us."

And, in the meantime, O'Driscoll also hopes fans will remain patient, as long as they can see their side are trying to do things in the right way.

"I know it is difficult for supporters, when the team is not doing well," he said.

"It is very easy to moan and groan. But, if you can bite your tongue when it comes to the moaning and groaning, until the final whistle, it really does help."

QUESTIONS have been raised about the future of a wildlife habitat as it goes up for auction.

Ninety acres of land at Holme Pierrepont, to the south of Adbolton Lane and north of Radcliffe Road, goes under the hammer at Nottingham Racecourse on November 1.

The former commercial quarry pits have been filled in and the land features 32 acres of water, including ponds and lakes.

The land has been developed into habitat for a variety of species, with wildlife including kingfishers and skylarks present.

There are also two nature reserves nearby.

The site is owned by Tarmac. Further development of the site is an option, subject to planning permission.

But Councillor Richard Mallender, chairman of the Nottingham Green Party, says the land should be turned into a nature reserve.

He says that any plans to build on the land – either for residential or business use – would be met with fierce opposition.

"What we've always said about that area is that the ideal thing would be to turn it into a nature reserve," he said.

"The land is already next door to one nature reserve and very close to another one so it would be good if they could join those together and have one continuous nature reserve running around the water sport centre.

"If the new buyers went the other way and announced intentioned to develop the land for housing or industry I think there would be a lot of local opposition to that and I would back that."

Dan Patterson, a member of Fields, a group which aims to protect and preserve the countryside around Lady Bay, said: "This is quite a large area, so any development would require a considerable amount of work and would change the dynamic of the area. The area in general is one where people enjoy leisure activities, and we want to keep it like that."

The guide price of the land is set at between £150,000 and £200,000.

The auction, held by Savills, will also see the former Cromwell Quarry, near Newark, be sold at a guide price of £150,000.

Do you live in the area? What do you think of the plans? Call Jayne Garfitt on 0115 905 1956 or e-mail jayne.garfitt@Nottinghampostgroup.co.uk.

A PUB landlady is planning a series of events to raise £10,000 for Nottingham City Hospital's stroke ward.

Nicola Murphy, 29, who runs It's Inn The Bank in Victoria Road, Netherfield, has raised more than £1,000 for Beeston Ward, which looked after her late grandmother, Evelyn Riekstins.

Mrs Riekstins had a stroke in December 2010 and received rehabilitation care at the ward until February 2011.

"The staff at the ward did a wonderful job looking after my grandma," Mrs Murphy said. After being discharged from the ward Mrs Riekstins lived with Mrs Murphy's mother and father, Anita and Ron Knowles.

"She was doing really well considering," Mrs Murphy added. "In the end, she passed away, because of the stroke, in December 2011, aged 82. But if it hadn't been for the great care at the ward, she wouldn't have been as well as she was in the months prior to her death.

"They told us at the ward that the first six months are the most important after a stroke and the more progress they see in the first few weeks the better the recovery will be.

"That's why it is important to us to raise as much money as we can so the ward can have more of the equipment for physiotherapy and basic day-to-day duties, like standing hoists for getting dressed, or specialised air-pressure seats and beds."

Mrs Murphy has organised a group of 15 women who have formed the Flying for Floss committee. Fundraising started in July and they have raised more than £1,000 from bake sales and raffles.

"We have had fantastic support from the local community," Mrs Murphy said. To raise the remaining £9,000, the committee is organising one event every month until next July, when six of the committee will perform a sponsored parachute jump at Langar airfield.

The next event – a charity quiz night – will be held at the pub at 8pm today.

On Saturday, November 3, five committee members will perform a firewalk at Nottingham Castle.

Mrs Murphy has tickets at £6.50, which include bonfire food, a cocktail, transport to and from the castle, spectators' entry for the firewalk, firework display, disco and late bar.

Dawn Good, hospital head of stroke service, said: "This is a tremendous fundraising effort and we wish Nicola every success. Her contribution to care at one of our acute stroke units is very much appreciated.

"Patients are taken to Beeston Ward from the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit where they usually stay for three days after suffering a stroke.

"When they move to Beeston Ward, patients can then begin their rehabilitation.''

Are you organising fundraising events? Call the newsdesk on 0115 905 1967 or e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup. co.uk

MORE than half of 500 jobs which were created at a sports retailer's warehouse have been filled.

The Post revealed last month that Sports Direct had given the North Notts area a huge boost by creating the roles in Shirebrook.

Now fewer than 200 of the jobs are left after a huge amount of interest.

A spokesman for the firm said: "More than 300 of the jobs have been filled and we are still receiving more interest so they could all be filled very soon.

"We are seeing candidates every day."

"We have had a big response to these new jobs.

"The level of interest has been better than expected.

The 500 new staff are to join the 3,000-strong workforce already employed at the plant.

The firm says it needs more staff to cope with growing demand because of rising interest in sport caused by the hugely-successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.

The staff are being employed on a month-by-month basis, but the company is confident it will be long-term work.

They are working as pickers, helping out in the distribution side of the business as well as its growing web department.

Recruitment firm Blue Arrow is overseeing the process of bringing in new staff.

Jo Fox, from Blue Arrow, said: "There has been a fantastic response to this.

"We are doing inductions every day right now.

"This has had a really positive impact on Sports Direct.

"It is great that they are investing in new jobs like this and we are very encouraged with the response we have seen so far."

The jobs boost has come at a time when there are high levels of unemployment in the Mansfield area.

Nearly one in 20 people in the Mansfield district are unemployed, with some wards having rates as high as nearly one in ten.

More than seven per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds in the district are jobless.

Sports Direct bosses predict further jobs could be created in the future as demand continues to increase.

IT started like any other Thursday afternoon on a quiet West Bridgford street. Ethel Dufour put some food into the oven and settled down to watch the telly.

But what happened next has haunted her for ten years.

"I felt a whirling going around and around. Then there was a big bang," she said.

"It was terrifying. I picked myself up off the floor, peeked through the blinds and saw the flats next door coming down like a set of dominoes."

A gas explosion turned a block of flats at the sheltered housing complex in Walcote Drive, West Bridgford, into a pile of rubble ten years ago this month – on October 3, 2002.

Heinrich Ommert, 87, died and neighbours Charlie Armstrong and Fay Davis were left injured.

Mr Armstrong, 83, was pulled from the rubble by a passer-by, but died from his injuries at the Queen's Medical Centre 12 days later.

Around 60 residents had to be evacuated from their homes, with many spending up to four nights away.

It took Mrs Dufour three weeks to return to her block of flats in Walcote Drive. The roof of her building had been lifted by the force of the blast.

A fractured gas main was thought to have caused the blast. Mrs Dufour, now 82, and a grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of five, lived in the flat until January this year, when she moved into a bungalow in Greythorn Drive. Her front room now overlooks flats built on the site of those destroyed in the blast.

She said: "It was 4.20pm when it happened. If it had been ten minutes earlier it would have been a lot worse as children would have been walking past going home from school."

Grandmother of four Eileen Walker also remembers the explosion. She had been returning to her home in Greythorn Drive, around 50 metres from the blast site, when she saw the road cordoned off.

Mrs Walker, 84, said: "Everyone was really upset. Some were crying and didn't know what was going to happen.

"It's still very real in people's memories. They can describe exactly what they were doing and the effect it had. None of us will ever forget it."

Mrs Walker described Mr Ommert as a "polite and quiet gentleman", while Mrs Dufour said Mr Armstrong was "a lovely chap".

Their names and a tribute to the other injured are engraved on a circular seat in a memorial garden at the sheltered housing complex.

Residents helped to raise £1,600 for the memorial, opened in April 2004 and designed by Nick and Sue Hamilton, son and daughter-in-law of the late TV gardener Geoff Hamilton.

Around 30 residents, past and present staff, and Mr Hamilton gathered in the garden to mark the tenth anniversary by adding a sundial and Mrs Walker said residents were discussing the garden's future with housing association Metropolitan. She added: "There was a sense the service somehow relieved people and took away a lot of the sadness."

Jenny Danson, regional director (North) for Metropolitan, said: "The Walcote Drive memorial service was important as our residents, staff, contractors and members of the community were so badly affected by this tragedy, with two of our residents losing their lives.

"Marking the ten year anniversary by donating a sundial for the memorial garden seemed appropriate."

CONCERNS have been raised over the standard of care given to old people in Nottingham.

It follows a new Post investigation into care homes in the city. Last month we revealed that Notts County Council had stopped sending people to three care homes in Notts due to worries over the level of care they provided.

Today, we can reveal there are also two care homes in the city which have had referrals from Nottingham City Council suspended. It comes after inspectors from the Care Quality Commission found failings at Churchfield Court in Hartley Road and Park View Nursing Home in Gedling Grove.

An unannounced inspection of Park View on June 20 revealed a number of failings. A subsequent inspection shows improvements have been made – but the city council is still not referring people there.

Findings by the inspectors in June included:

A person who could not walk unaided not being helped to go to the toilet for more than eight hours.

Several incidents of unexplained injuries had not been referred to the local safeguarding team.

A cleaning trolley containing corrosive chemicals was left in a resident's bedroom.

A spokesman for Park View said: "The latest Care Quality Commission report from August 30 shows that while there are some remaining issues, you will see that:

Significant improvements have been made.

The concerns are mostly minor, with one or two listed as "moderate" (these issues have been dealt with).

It notes that we are doing exactly what we said we would do in our action plan.

"This view has been endorsed by all the leading agencies that we are dealing with.

"Nevertheless we take any concerns raised about the home very seriously, and will ensure that any concerns are dealt with swiftly."

At Churchfield Court during an inspection on July 16 inspectors said:

A person had not been bathed or showered for two months in spite of records showing "they had difficulties maintaining their continence".

One person sat for 45 minutes waiting for someone to assist them with their food while others around them ate.

They witnessed a resident regularly hit out at staff, who did not seem to be using any techniques to try to calm or divert them.

They saw a staff member allow another visitor to get involved in assisting the person to a standing position which resulted in the person trying to hit them both.

A spokesman for Churchfield Court said: "When Methodist Homes (MHA) acquired Churchfield Court from Southern Cross in late 2011, we took immediate action to make improvements. We have improved issues identified by the Care Quality Commission and continue to work together with the regulator and other bodies to raise standards.

"Methodist Homes took the voluntary decision to suspend admissions in order to allow the organisation to concentrate on positive changes to bring the home in line with the high standards of care to which Methodist Homes aspires.

"Staff have undertaken full training including health and safety and safeguarding vulnerable adults."

A spokesman for the city council said: "In the case of significant concerns, we will suspend the contract until improvements are made. We provide support in making improvements and carry out follow-up monitoring visits.

"Park View and Churchfield Court are continuing to work to improve and we have agreed a timeline for improvement.

"We work very closely with the Care Quality Commission and local partners such as the NHS and will alert them to any concerns we have about the quality of care in a home."

Have any of your relatives experienced poor care in a home? Call the newsdesk on 0115 905 1967 or e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup. co.uk

NOTTS County were booted out of their Burton training base by England this week – but boss Keith Curle did not mind one bit.

The Magpies face Carlisle United in League One today and instead of admiring Wayne Rooney and co as Roy Hodgson's Three Lions built-up to their World Cup qualifier against San Marino at the new £100m National Football Centre, Curle says his players have been training like tigers back in Nottingham.

And he insists they are determined to get back to winning ways at Brunton Park, after slipping from top to seventh in League One and losing their last two games against leaders Tranmere Rovers and second-placed Stevenage.

"There has been a nice level of aggression in training," he said.

"The players know they are competing for places because there were four or five below par last Saturday.

"They have been very lively and were getting half a yard closer to each other and that is what we have got to do today.

"We have got to make it a very competitive game against Carlisle."

Curle says his players have been steering clear of the papers.

"They don't enjoy losing, I can assure you of that," he added.

"There was a bit of a lull and a downer on Monday because they don't like reading the papers and seeing where we are in the league table from where we were.

"We are going to lose during the course of the season, every team does. The important thing is how quickly we can respond."

It is only the second time since Curle took charge eight months ago that Notts have lost back-to-back games.

"This is the other side of the job," he said.

"Being manager when the team is winning is fantastic and a lot of people will say it's very easy.

"The flip-side of that is that when results are not favourable it's probably the worst job you can have because suddenly everyone turns round and it's your fault.

"It's all part of the job and I thrive on it.

"The focus is on how quickly we can turn it around and get back to winning ways."

Curle is considering making changes against Carlisle.

"I'm not a knee-jerk reaction type of person, I'm not a ranter and a raver," he added.

"I expect players in this division to make mistakes."

A TROUBLED care home says it "deeply regrets recent events" which have led to it being temporarily shut down amid 16 separate allegations of neglect and the death of a pensioner.

Government watchdog the Care Quality Commission announced on Thursday that it had taken urgent legal action against Spring Lane Residential Home in Lambley after "unacceptable failings" were found following an unannounced inspection.

Police revealed they are also investigating the death of 87-year-old pensioner who died on August 10 and the safeguarding team at Notts County Council said they were investigating 16 separate cases of alleged neglect. No arrests have been made.

Legal action taken on Tuesday by the Care Quality Commission saw the care home de-registered and residents have been moved elsewhere.

Distraught daughter Christine Clark of Cavendish Road, Carlton, visited her late mother at the home when she was a resident there in August 2010.

She said she was appalled by what she saw there.

She said: "We repeatedly asked the home to change her commode and her bedding as it had faeces on it.

"We also asked them to shower her but they did not.

"In the end I had to bring her to my home and shower her."

Mrs Clark's mother, who she didn't want to name, was taken out of the home after just four weeks at the request of her family. She eventually died at the age of 81 of bowel cancer in October 2011.

John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, said there had been "serious allegations" at the home since June 2011 and criticised Notts County Council for not acting on this information quickly enough.

But Kevin Rostance, chair of adult social care for the county council, told the Post those comments were "unfair".

He said: "We suspended our contract with Spring Lane Care Home in mid August when we were alerted to serious concerns.

"The comments made by Mr Clarke about the county council's lack of action at Spring Lane Care Home were unfair.

"Since then, our staff have been working proactively with the home to try and improve standards. This work includes monitoring visits and an action plan for the home to rectify any concerns.

"We always prefer to work with providers to improve standards initially rather than immediately moving people who may be frail.

"It is only the Care Quality Commission which has the power to close a care home and we have been working with the commission throughout this process."

A spokesman for the home said: "We deeply regret recent events at Spring Lane.

"At this time we are working closely with the local authority in the best interest of residents, ensuring that residents and their families are consulted on the way forward for their future care and support."

A MAN on trial for the murder of Caroline Coyne told a jury he did not try to attack a second woman a month later.

Carl Powell is alleged to have grabbed the woman by the throat and dragged her into the grounds of the City College site in Carlton Road. But she managed to talk him out of committing any further offence.

Powell was yesterday quizzed by prosecutor Stuart Rafferty QC about the second incident, which began when the woman asked him the time.

Mr Rafferty suggested that Powell was "surprised" that the woman was not as drunk as he had thought she was.

But Powell told him: "Why would I have thought she was drunk? I hadn't tried to attack her or drag her across the road."

As soon as he was out of sight, the woman phoned her mother and told her she had been grabbed by the neck and followed by a man who would not leave her.

Powell, 23, of Carlton, was first arrested in connection with this incident. Police then made the connection between his appearance and the man on the CCTV footage of Ms Coyne the night she was allegedly stalked and killed.

Jurors have heard that CCTV images pinpointed the movements of both women walking alone in Nottingham, with the solitary figure of Powell in the same area.

Powell denies he killed 28-year-old Ms Coyne after she had been to her half-sister's birthday party.

She was discovered dead by a couple on a pathway in Thorneywood Mount, Thorneywood, at 8.40am on Saturday, July 23, last year.

She may have survived for several hours before dying from head injuries.

Powell says he was not following her down a street – he was just being nosey after he heard a car bleeping and a screeching sound.

He said: "In my head I just thought I was being nosey."

Mr Rafferty put it to Powell that both women had been "throttled" by him and sexually assaulted, but he denied the claims.

The barrister said: "One of them talked her way out of what you wanted to do to her immediately."

Powell denied this.

Mr Rafferty suggested that Powell sexually assaulted her – because he "couldn't let it go".

But Powell replied: "No, I did not."

"And one of them wasn't quite so lucky, because you killed her, didn't you?" asked Mr Rafferty.

Powell said: "No".

Powell denies murder and three further allegations which relate to the second woman – false imprisonment, false imprisonment with intent to commit a sexual offence and sexual assault.

The case proceeds.

THE family and friends of a Netherfield man stranded in a Tunisian hospital after falling from a balcony have thanked Post readers for their generosity.

Sign-fitter Karl Nethercot, 35, was in a coma with severe head and chest injuries after he fell from his second-floor hotel balcony on October 2.

He was awoken from the medically induced coma on Wednesday and the family are now facing a £20,000 bill to fly him back to the UK – a cost not covered by his travel insurance.

However, close family friend Tracy Minion, 34, of Valeside Gardens, Colwick, who is assistant manager at the Vale Social Club in Vale Road, Colwick, said the generosity of strangers had been overwhelming and so far £2,000 had been raised.

She said: "We have been astounded by what people have donated.

"Since we spoke to the Post and the story was printed on the front page, we have been getting lots of donations.

"People have been posting £50 notes, and they are complete strangers to the family.

"What is more, local businesses like Morrisons at Victoria Retail Park, who have put collection tins at the tills, and printing company Blueprint of Colwick, who have printed us a massive sign saying 'Help us fly him home,' have been amazing.

"It has really helped draw attention to what we are doing and hopefully will eventually mean we have enough to help get Karl home.

"It has been such a hard time for Karl's family and his six children.

"His fiance Emma has stayed out there in Tunisia with him and now his mum, dad and sister, who live in Leicester have flown out to the hospital. His parents have just applied to re-mortgage their home, which will help towards the flight home, but there are still huge medical bills that need paying.

"It is just so heart-warming to see utter strangers helping out and we all want to say 'thank you' to everyone who has donated."

Karl's sister-in-law Samantha Davison, 24, of Vale Road, Colwick, added: "Karl is making good progress.

"He is moving his hands, legs and head. We still have a long way to go to reach the target. Emma went to see him in the room the other day, and she was telling him about all the fundraising we are all doing here and that the boys are missing them like crazy.

"We have started a scrap book for Karl, which has all sorts of photos and quotes from his friends and family. We all want him back where he belongs."

A series of fundraising events have already taken place at Karl's local, the Vale Social Club, and events are planned for the next month to keep the donations coming in. To find out about the events planned, go to the Facebook page called Please Pray and Keep Karl Nethercot in Our Thoughts and to donate to the fundraising efforts send money to the Vale Social Club, 54 Vale Road, Colwick.

SHOPS from across the city have joined forces for the first time for a special event celebrating Nottingham's reputation for fashion and style.

The 48 Hours of Fashion event, which kicked off yesterday, has seen the city centre transformed, with catwalk shows, fashion advisers and a chance to have a go on a 3D full body scanner.

Virtually all the city's fashion retailers are taking part – from the quirky vintage shops of Hockley to the designer boutiques of Bridlesmith Gate.

Stores involved include independents such as Cow, in George Street and Braderie, in Pelham Street, as well as chains including John Lewis, in the Victoria Centre, and Thackerays, in St Peter's Gate.

Organised by the Retail Business Improvement District (BID) – which was set up to attract more shoppers into the city – the event aims to boost retail and create a buzz around fashion.

Neil Fincham, director of the retail BID and centre manager of the Exchange Arcade, said: "Nottingham has an unrivalled reputation for the eclectic mix of its fashion retailers and we're keen to celebrate the fantastic choices we have here.

"It's strategic approaches like this that will strengthen Nottingham as the city of choice for shoppers in the region – driving spending, growth and ultimately a brighter economic future for the retail sector."

Corset maker Susi Henson, 34, of Mapperley, who runs the fashion brand Eternal Spirits in Lower Parliament Street, believes this kind of event is what is needed to reinforce people's view of Nottingham as a fashion city.

She said: "Our city is full of creative, talented people as well as fantastic independent stores and retail chains.

"This event is the perfect platform to highlight the best of what we have to offer and will help place Nottingham firmly on the fashion map."

Yesterday shoppers were invited to take part as a 3D full body scanner was unveiled at a "Style Hub" set up in the Upper Mall of the Victoria Centre.

The scanner uses digital white light to take images from 16 angles and takes more than 100 different measurements. Those measurements are then used to determine body shape - hourglass, rectangle, strawberry, pear-shaped or apple – and so help people choose the right clothes to suit them.

Fashion stylists were on hand at the hub to help those taking part. The hub also features outfit ideas and local hair and beauty retailers offering free mini-makeovers.

One of the first people to step in and give the body scanner a try was Rosie Stopher, 19, a part-time shop assistant of Edward Road, West Bridgford.

She was given a full rundown of her measurements to the tenth of an inch including her waist, hips, thighs, bust – and even her elbows, wrists and neck.

"I was a bit nervous but the scanner itself took no time at all and it wasn't intimidating," said Rosie, whose measurements showed she was an "hourglass".

"I think the measurements are slightly larger than my actual size, but generally they're helpful in picking out sizes using size guides. It's really helpful to see what shape I am and match clothes to suit it."

The body scanner – which is free – will be in the Victoria Centre until 5pm today and people can either book online at www.itsinnottingham.com or turn up and book a slot during the day.

More fashion shows are taking place at the Broadmarsh Centre today.

Al Booth, the centre's marketing manager, said: "This is such a creative city.

"With the current music scene really making people sit up and take notice, it's great to know that we are adding fashion to that list too."

STANDARDS at two city care homes have caused Nottingham City Council so much concern they have stopped sending people to them.

Suspensions are in place at Churchfield Court in Radford, and Park View Nursing Home, also in Radford, after inspectors from the Care Quality Commission raised concerns.

At Churchfield failings included:

A person had not been bathed or showered for two months in spite of records which showed "they had difficulties maintaining their continence".

Leaving a resident who could not eat unaided for 45 minutes while others ate their lunch around them

Asking a member of the public to assist with a person who "regularly hit out at staff".

At Park View inspectors found: A resident who could not walk independently was not helped to go to the toilet for more than eight hours.

A cleaning trolley containing corrosive chemicals was left in a resident's bedroom.

The news comes weeks after the Post revealed the names of three care homes in the county that were also the subject of suspensions.

Chairman of Nottingham Elders Forum, Dennis Andrews, 88, of Mapperley said: "The situation is unacceptable.

"It's all very well the council getting involved and suspending contracts now, but we have to remember that people appear to have already suffered."

A spokesman for the city council said: "In the case of significant concerns, we will suspend the contract until improvements are made.

"We provide them with support in making improvements and carry out follow-up monitoring visits.

"Park View and Churchfield Court are continuing to work to improve and we have agreed a timeline for improvement."

Both homes say they have made improvements since the initial inspections were carried out and are continuing to work with the council.

NOTTS County thrashed Carlisle United 4-0 in League One at Brunton Park today.

Jeff Hughes started the rout early in the first half and captain Neal Bishop doubled their lead on 27 minutes.

The Magpies then struck twice in three minutes in the second half to kill off United, Francois Zoko scoring against his old club and Jamal Campbell-Ryce netting from the penalty spot.

It is their biggest win of the season – and they are now 13 league games unbeaten away from Meadow Lane.

The Magpies were unchanged from their 1-0 home defeat against league leaders Tranmere Rovers.

Yoann Arquin started as a lone striker and Notts boss Keith Curle resisted any temptation to start Zoko, naming Campbell-Ryce, Alan Judge, Hughes, Bishop and Andre Boucaud in midfield.

Bartosz Bialkowski was in goal and Carl Regan, Dean Leacock, Gary Liddle and Jordan Stewart started in defence.

Former Magpies' defender Mike Edwards started for Carlisle and the home side threatened on three minutes, winger Matty Robson breaking forward quickly and firing a shot just wide of Bialkowski's right-hand post.

Notts hit back on five minutes, Bishop chesting the ball into Judge's path inside the penalty area, but his strike was blocked by defender Danny Livesey.

Nottingham Forest striker Joe Garner, who is on loan at Brunton Park, then smashed a shot narrowly over the crossbar from 20 yards on eight minutes.

The Magpies scored to take a 1-0 lead on 11 minutes.

Judge swung a cross into Carlisle's box from the left wing and Hughes made a great run between Livesey and Edwards to direct a header past goalkeeper Mark Gillespie from close range.

Robson went close again on 19 minutes, rifling a shot over the bar from 20 yards after Notts failed to clear a free-kick.

The Magpies were claiming for a penalty moments later, after Gillespie spilled a cross and Hughes nicked the ball away from him and was brought down.

Hughes threw his arms up in the air, after being upended, but referee Stuart Attwell waved away his protest, leaving Curle shaking his head on the touchline.

Notts soon doubled their lead anyway, Bishop making it 2-0 on 27 minutes.

Jeff Hughes won the ball back with a good tackle and quickly spread it out wide and Stewart swept a superb cross into the six-yard box for Bishop, who slid in to prod it past Gillespie.

Notts were cruising, but Judge was forced off with an injury after taking a whack on the hip on 35 minutes, just moments after Bialkowski made a great save to deny Garner from point-blank range.

Zoko came on to boos from the home fans, but almost silenced them very quickly, beating two players inside the box before finally being stopped.

The Ivorian might have been denied, but the Magpies were still in complete control as the first half ended in comical fashion with Attwell booking the wrong Notts player.

Arquin fouled Carlisle left-back Chris Chantler, but Attwell booked Campbell-Ryce before being told he had made a mistake by Curle.

He very quickly rescinded Campbell-Ryce's yellow with a gesture and booked Arquin before blowing his whistle for half-time.

The Magpies were very quickly back into the stride at the start of the second half, with Bishop driving them forward, and they made it 3-0 on 54 minutes.

Zoko scored it, racing onto Arquin's flick and into the box and slipping the ball confidently past Gillespie.

He didn't celebrate and just lifted his right arm up in the air, before being mobbed by his team-mates.

Notts then scored a fourth goal from the penalty spot on 56 minutes.

Campbell-Ryce was brought down by Chantler and, after dusting himself down, he stepped up and stroked the spot-kick into the bottom left corner of the net, sending Gillespie the wrong way.

Leading 4-0, the Magpies subbed Bishop to give a debut to Ashley Eastham and the on-loan defender was quickly involved, blocking a dangerous cross into the box by Frank Simek on 72 minutes.

Bialkowski was then tested by a good free-kick from sub Liam Noble on 82 minutes and James Berrett dragged a shot just wide from 20 yards two minutes later, but Notts eased to an emphatic victory in the end.

CARLISLE: Gillespie, Potts (Simek, 62), Livesey, Edwards, Chantler, Higginbotham, Berrett, Thirlwell (Noble, 46), Robson, Garner, Cadamarteri (Beck, 63). Subs: Collin, Murphy, Welsh, Bugno.

NOTTS: Bialkowski, Regan, Leacock, Liddle, Stewart, Bishop (Eastham, 68), Boucaud, J Hughes, Campbell-Ryce (Nangle, 77), Judge (Zoko, 35), Arquin. Subs: Spiess, Sheehan, Mahon, Showunmi.

ATTENDANCE: 4,731.

Rampant Notts County set a club record with a 13th successive away game without defeat as they hammered Carlisle 4-0 at Brunton Park.

First half goals from Jeff Hughes and Neal Bishop set them on their way and further efforts from Francois Zoko and Jamal Campbell-Ryce after the break made it look easy against a Carlisle side that has only won once at home all season.

Although Carlisle began brightly it was County who made the early breakthrough when Jeff Hughes ghosted into the box to get on the end of Alan Judge's cross from the left. There were questions over the home defence's marking, but Hughes made no mistake, glancing a header neatly past keeper Mark Gillespie from six yards.

Good work by Jordan Stewart, racing down the left flank, led to County's second goal in the 27th minute. The fullback whipped in a low cross which Neal Bishop was on hand to poke past the stranded Gillespie from close range.

The Magpies looked a threat every time they went forward against a stationary Carlisle rearguard although Danny Livesey, with a shot which scraped the bar and Joe Garner, denied at close quarters by Bartosz Bialkowski, tried to provide a much-needed spark for the Cumbrians.

Judge limped off in the 35th minute to be replaced by former Carlisle striker Francois Zoko and the Ivorian was on target nine minutes after the interval, breaking away from Bradley Potts before slipping the ball past Gillespie from 12 yards.

It got even worse for Carlisle in the 57th minute when Chris Chantler fouled Campbell-Ryce in the area and the County winger stepped up to send Gillespie the wrong way with the penalty

It was a canter for Magpies who made it six away matches without defeat this season and 13 stretching back to February.

A last-gasp header from Matt Rhead was enough to earn Mansfield maximum points and deny Forest Green the chance to climb to second in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

With Wrexham losing at home to Lincoln, Rovers could have overtaken their rivals at the top end of the table, but they struggled to break down their opponents and went home empty-handed.

The visitors enjoyed the better share of possession in the early stages and came close to taking the lead after 10 minutes when James Norwood had a 12-yard effort blocked by Ritchie Sutton.

Rovers continued to knock on the door but were unable to cause Mansfield goalkeeper Liam Mitchell too many problems.

Mansfield had their fair share of chances and, in the 89th minute, Rhead rose highest to head the ball home and snatch his side all three points.