Notts Forest owner Marinakis back as Greek Super League boss

Vangelis Marinakis was elected president of the Greek Super League on Friday, the owner of English Premier League side Nottingham Forest pledging that it was “time for Greek football to move forward”.

Marinakis, who is also boss of Olympiakos, returns for a second time to the position after a first term running Greece’s top league in 2010-2011.

“I would like to thank all Super League clubs for their trust and to make it clear to all football fans that it is time for Greek football to move forward.

“That is, to bring Greek football in the elite of European leagues,” the 54-year-old posted on Instagram.

With state-of-the-art stadiums, safe and functional training centres and academies Greek payers will be better promoted, he said.

“It is time for professional football to take on the responsibility of building a model Super League for other countries,” he added.

Marinakis, who became Nottingham Forest’s majority shareholder in 2017, was the only candidate after Lamia owner Giorgos Borovilos withdrew from the election.

Marinakis received nine votes, with AEK Athens, Panathinaikos and PAOK Thessaloniki abstaining.

Last year Marinakis was banned from entering the field of play for five months after being found guilty of verbally abusing a referee.

And last month former European champions Forest returned to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years, defeating Huddersfield in the Championship play-off.