Forest vs Birmingham Friendly Delayed by Operational Issue

NOTTINGHAM FOREST's pre-season friendly with Birmingham City has been delayed due to an operational issue.

Forest's third-last friendly before the start of the new Premier League season was set to get underway at St Andrew's at 3:00pm.

3 Nottingham Forest's pre-season friendly with Birmingham City has been delayed Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK

3 An 'operational issue' at St Andrew's to kick-off being pushed back by 15 minutes Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK

But a currently-unspecified issue has forced City to push back kick-off by 15 minutes.

A club statement read: "Due to an operational issue, today's game has been delayed by 15 minutes.

"The game will now kick off at 3:15pm."

Forest also confirmed the delay of the friendly on their own website.

Their statement read: "The kick-off time for Nottingham Forest’s pre-season friendly against Birmingham City has been delayed until 3.15pm BST.

"This is due to an issue to an operational issue.

"Any further updates will be communicated through our website and social media feeds."

The Midlands derby is being played in honour of the late Trevor Francis , who played for both clubs.

City honoured their former forward before the match by unveiling a statue of him outside St Andrews.

3 Birmingham City unveiled a statue honouring the late Trevor Francis outside of St Andrews before the match Credit: ALAMY

Several of Francis' former team-mates were present for the unveiling of the statue, which was created by sculptor Douglas Jennings.

City chief executive Jeremy Dale said of Francis: "He wasn't just a footballer, he was our footballer.

"Trevor, speaking personally, was my boyhood hero.

"He was the kind of player who made you fall in love with the beautiful game ."