Stan Collymore has booked his flight and hotel for the Europa League final in Istanbul, but he has made a generous promise to a Nottingham Forest fan if his beloved Aston Villa are knocked out by Forest.
Villa travel to the City Ground on Thursday for the first leg of the semi-final, with a place in the final against either Braga or SC Freiburg at Besiktas Stadium on May 20 at stake. The second leg takes place at Villa Park on May 7, as Unai Emery aims to lead the club to its first silverware in thirty years.
Thousands of Villa supporters are dreaming of the final, including former striker Collymore, who played for both clubs. His split loyalties led him to make a pledge on social media.
"I love Forest, and anyone who's heard me talk about the club in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and beyond knows how I feel. If you beat us then there'll be no louder cheer outside of Nottingham than mine," he wrote on X.
"I booked a flight and hotel to Istanbul back in September and I hope to use it. If I don't, a Tricky will have the flight (they'll only have to pay the change name fee) for free.
"Forest is like a best mate to me but Villa is my Mom, and Moms trump everything and everyone.
"I hope the match does both clubs justice and whoever makes the final, they put on a show and bring the trophy home."
Collymore spent two years at Forest from 1993 to 1995 before moving to Liverpool, and later joined his beloved Villa, scoring 15 times in 61 appearances for the Claret and Blue before moving to Leicester City.
