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Nottingham Forest have been branded “a mess” by their former star Jamaal Lascelles after the crisis club's latest loss.

Unpopular Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi is close to selling a controlling stake at the City Ground to US entrepreneur John Jay Moores.

But the protracted £50million deal has seen Forest slip to two points off the Championship drop zone after four straight losses under French boss Philippe Montanier.

They were also dumped out of the FA Cup at the weekend by lowly Wigan, who are 23rd in the second tier.

Now Newcastle captain Lascelles has given an insight into the turmoil behind the scenes at his old club with several players unhappy.

(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Defender Lascelles, 23, sold in August 2014 by Forest to Newcastle and loaned back for a season, told Mirror Sport: “Hopefully they sort out the mess they are in. I feel for a few of the players still there.

“They still have a few really good players. Ben Osborn, Henri Lansbury, Michael Mancienne, they were there when I was there.

“I don't think they are getting treated fairly for what they are offering and giving to the club.

“That is my homegrown club, I was there from eight years of age. I wish them all the best.”

(Image: 2013 Getty Images)

Skipper Lansbury wants to quit this month as his contract is up in the summer and the club have received a £3million-plus bid from Aston Villa.

Lansbury has cleared out his boots from the training ground and said goodbye to team-mates.

The 26-year-old midfielder was left out of the Cup defeat to Wigan at the weekend because his head was not right.

But the former Arsenal youngster is still waiting for Al Hasawi to sign off the transfer, while fellow in-form midfielder Osborn is also wanted by Championship rivals Newcastle.

(Image: Action Images) (Image: Getty)

Defensive prospect Joe Worrall, 19, has been kept waiting for a contract renewal despite playing enough games to trigger a clause stipulating improved new terms.

Fellow defender Michael Mancienne is also out of contract in the summer.

Forest youngsters like Matty Cash and Ben Brereton are also attracting interest from bigger clubs following RB Leipzig's £13million summer move for Oliver Burke.

(Image: Getty)

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To compound matters, Mirror Sport understands several senior players are losing faith in boss Montanier and particularly his backroom staff.

A Forest source told Mirror Sport: “It is such a shame what has happened to a once great club like Forest who have won the European Cup.

“They need a takeover badly but Fawaz has been clinging to power.

“The first team has become a shambles. Players literally don't know whether they are coming or going.”