1994–95 Nottingham Forest F.C. season to succeed in life after Brian Clough as new manager Frank Clark guided them to an impressive third-place finish and UEFA Cup qualification, giving Forest their first European campaign of the post-Heysel era. Striker Stan Collymore was on target 22 times in the league and speculation that he would be on his way to another club proved correct at the end of the season when he sold to Liverpool for a national record fee of £8.4 million. The failure of Clark to buy a proven replacement cast significant doubt over whether Forest could mount a serious challenge for honours in
Nottingham Forest F.C. 1–8 Manchester United F.C. he stated in an interview after the game that his team had given the fans a "nine-goal thriller". Manchester United went on to win the Premier League with 79 points, one point ahead of second-placed Arsenal. Forest's relegation was confirmed on 24 April with a 2–0 defeat at Atkinson's old club Aston Villa. He announced his resignation as manager within hours of the final whistle, with effect from the final game of the league season on 16 May, and said that he would be retiring from football management. Forest finished bottom of the League with just 30 points. Nottingham Forest