In theory, the first out-and-out natural goalscorer seen in the Garibaldi for many seasons; the only question mark about Cole was always his age. By any objective standard he is an outstanding player - second only to Alan Shearer in the all-time Premiership scoring charts, and scoring goals at a prodigious rate wherever he has played, including 6 in 13 games at Burnley last season, which boded well. A Nottingham boy, he signed for Forest in was clearly his final season as a professional, during which he would see his 37th birthday.

Though it was always apparent that he couldn't go on for ever, and in his early games Cole showed some characteristic and classy touches, the old football fans' cliche that "his legs had gone" seemed apt in Cole's case, as exemplified when the ProZone stats following his final game, a home draw against Ipswich Town, showed that he had run less far than Lee Camp, the keeper. He was rumoured to be unhappy at not starting every week - but with Joe Garner returnign from injury and showing well, that was never going to happen with a non-running centre forward. Cole's contract was duly cancelled a few days later.