Nottingham Forest have made changes to their off-field structure to ensure compliance with UEFA rules in the event of Champions League qualification. The Reds are one step away from reaching the Europa League final and with it a shot at securing a spot among Europe’s elite next season. Their triumph over Porto at the City Ground last week clinched a 2-1 aggregate win and set up a semi-final with Premier League rivals Aston Villa. If Forest go on to lift the trophy, they would qualify for the 2026/27 Champions League. Doing so could see them playing in the same tournament as fellow Evangelos Marinakis-owned club Olympiacos. WORLD CUP LEGENDS: The stars who lit up football’s greatest tournament – Buy the Special Edition today Multi-club ownership (MCO) rules prohibit teams controlled by the same owners or directors from competing in the same European competition. An individual is not permitted to have a significant say in the running of two sides competing in the same UEFA tournament. With that in mind, just as they did last season, the Reds have taken steps to ensure they do not fall foul of the regulations. That includes owner Marinakis diluting his control of the club. A document filed on the Companies House website shows cessation of the Greek businessman as “a person with significant control” of NF Football Investments Limited, the vehicle that owns Forest. As was the case 12 months ago, a “blind trust” has been set up to ensure compliance with MCO rules. Earlier this year, Jonny Owen, Simon Forster and Michael Dugher were removed from the board of directors. On Companies House, “termination of a director appointment” documents regarding the trio were filed. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Get all the Nottingham Forest latest via our Facebook page Newly-submitted documents show Janet Lucy Gibson, Mr Henry Peter Hickman and Eleanor Catherine Walsh have been “consented to act” as directors of the club. All three are listed as partners at Sinclair Gibson LLP law firm. Additionally, Gibson has been appointed as a director of NF Football Investments Limited. A “notice of relevant legal entity” lists Pittville Four Limited as a “person with significant control” of the company. The documents have only just appeared on Companies House but Forest sources say the blind trust structure was in place before UEFA’s compliance deadline. To comply with MCO rules, clubs needed to take steps to ensure “as at 1 March 2026” MCO criteria had been met. The Reds undertook similar arrangements last year when they were battling for a top-five Premier League finish which would have secured Champions League football. Owner Marinakis placed his Forest shares into a “blind trust” and changes were made to the club’s board of directors, with Owen, Dugher and Forster replaced by Matthew Cain, Timothy Osborne and Matthew Shayle as directors. In the event, Forest finished seventh in the table and had to settle for a spot in the Europa League. Vitor Pereira’s side will take on Villa in a two-legged semi-final to reach this year’s Europa League showpiece in Istanbul. The first leg will take place at the City Ground on April 30, with the return at Villa Park a week later.