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Forest have slipped to 17th in the table, having won just once in eight Championship matches.
Cohen, 29, told BBC Nottingham Sport bad results were not down to "a couple of little mix-ups with payments".
"That is not any kind of reason why we are not getting results," Cohen said.
"Anyone that says that is lying and using it as an excuse to hide the fact they are not doing well enough."
Reds owner and chairman Fawaz Al Hasawi is close to selling up to a United States consortium, but has denied reports he is demanding a large annual salary and huge bonuses as part of any takeover deal.
The Guardian article also claimed the players had to be placated over late payments and unpaid bonuses.
But Cohen, Forest's longest-serving player having joined in 2007, added: "There have been issues over the years and everything has always been resolved, but because results are not going well and the media have got involved it has magnified the situation.
"They always get sorted out, as they will be this time, and then we move on.
"You don't want it to happen and would rather everything just ran completely smoothly but they are small issues. Talk of players' revolt - if that was going to happen then I missed it.
"It's not as big an issue as everyone is saying but you want to iron out the small details.
"There is a good relationship and always has been between the chairman and players and that hasn't changed over the last few weeks. I would be surprised if the same story had come if we had won the last five games."

The firm says it will use a two-stage recruitment challenge, to be found on the Gorillaz mixed reality app, as an "innovative recruitment tool".
The first part involves virtually assembling the Jaguar I-PACE Concept, an all-electric five-seater sports car.
The second part involves a series of code breaking puzzles.
"As the automotive industry transforms over the next decade, fuelled by software innovation, we have to attract the best talent and that requires a radical rethink of how we recruit," said Alex Heslop, head of electrical engineering at the car firm.
"Here we've found an engaging way to recruit a diverse talent pool in software systems, cyber systems, app development and graphics performance. It will be the first of its kind."
Gorrilaz female guitarist, Noodle, is already Jaguar's Formula E Racing's ambassador.
The firm said it would hire 1,000 electronic and software engineers and 4,000 workers across other sectors, including manufacturing.
Most of the jobs will be based in the UK, with recruitment taking place over the coming year. The firm has five sites in the West Midlands, and one on Merseyside.
The carmaker, which is owned by India's Tata Motors, employs more than 40,000 people globally,
The company will build the I-PACE, in Austria. But it has indicated it would like to make such models in the UK if conditions such as support from government are met.
Jaguar Land Rover has indicated half of all new models will be available in an electric version by the end of the decade, necessitating new skills among its staff.

The 26-year-old is expected to play five games for the Sixers before joining up with England's limited-overs squad in India.
"To get the opportunity to play at the SCG is obviously a massive ambition of mine," he told the club website.
Roy could make his debut in the game against Sydney Thunder on 20 December.
He played three Big Bash games for Thunder two seasons ago.
"Jason is known as an explosive weapon at the top of the order and we look forward to his contribution, bringing also his English experiences from which we can share," said Sixers head coach Greg Shipperd.
England begin the limited-overs section of their tour to India next month.
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Nottingham Forest captain Chris Cohen says the club's impending takeover, off-field distractions and "small issues" with late payments and unpaid bonuses are no excuse for poor form.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Carmaker Jaguar Land Rover has teamed up with virtual band Gorillaz to find 5,000 staff to enhance its expertise in autonomous and electric technology.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Surrey and England batsman Jason Roy has agreed a short-term deal to play for Sydney Sixers in the forthcoming Big Bash tournament in Australia.