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Olympiakos' Evangelos Marinakis completes Nottingham Forest takeover

Nottingham Forest have announced Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis has completed his takeover of the club.

The Championship side said Marinakis' 100 percent buy-out has been approved by the English Football League (EFL) even though an investigation into accusations of match-fixing is ongoing in Greece.

Marinakis has passed the EFL's owner's and directors' test and the deal ends the five-year reign of Fawaz Al Hasawi, but UEFA is still monitoring the Greek case and awaiting the outcome.

He told BBC Sport that claims he is involved in criminal activity had been made up by "jealous" opponents in a bid to discredit him, adding: "I have nothing to be afraid of and to worry about as I have done nothing wrong."

A statement on Forest's official website read: "Nottingham Forest FC have announced the takeover of the club by a consortium headed by Evangelos M Marinakis, a Greek ship owner, businessman and owner of Greek champions Olympiakos, and Sokratis Kominakis, a Greek businessman and investor, previously a senior executive with several multinational corporations.

"The completion of the purchase of 100 percent of the club's shares follows the EFL's review of the business plan submitted for the club.

"The EFL conducted an owners' and directors' test and concluded that none of the persons who would be relevant persons are liable to be disqualified under the test."

Marinakis, who set up his business in the UK after attending school and university in London, wants to replicate his success with Olympiakos at Forest and has appointed lawyer Nicholas Randall as club chairman.

"Our intention is to keep Nottingham Forest thoroughly embedded in English football culture," Marinakis added.

"We are therefore proud to announce the appointment of Nicholas Randall, QC, one of the leading sports lawyers in England, to the club's board. Nicholas knows the football industry like few others and has accepted an offer to join the club as its chairman."

Forest, twice winners of the European Cup under former manager Brian Clough, beat Ipswich 3-0 at home on the final day of the season to escape relegation to the third tier on goal difference.

Al Hasawi, who took control of Forest in 2012, held takeover talks with an American consortium in January but the deal fell through.

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