Midfielder Ben Watson has acknowledged that Nottingham Forest are targeting promotion to the Premier League next season.

Forest have finished in the bottom half of the Championship table on their last four attempts, but owner Evangelos Marinakis has provided the funds for a number of high-profile signings.

Watson has said that the club's hierarchy are "serious" about earning a place in the top flight, and feels that a large squad can only benefit their chances.

The 32-year-old is quoted by the Nottingham Post as saying: "The owners have spent money. They are serious about getting promotion. It is as simple as that.

"If we can attract better players, it is better for the club. It is as simple as that. You have 46 games in the Championship and cup games as well so, as a minimum, you are looking at 50 games.

"It is a ridiculous amount of games for a season. You will need a good squad. Look at Christmas and Easter. Even during normal weeks, you can quite often have three games.

"It is demanding, it is tough. If we have that level of quality throughout the squad and you can make changes and pull people out of the side (for a rest), it hopefully won't make a difference."

As it stands, the East Midlands outfit have signed eight new players.