Former Preston North End manager Simon Grayson would be wary of selling the football club to the wrong party, amid reports of American interest.
In recent weeks, two USA consortiums have been linked with a potential move to buy North End from the Hemmings family. The Lilywhites have played down the talk, with a ‘mystery Miami-based group’ first mentioned in the media – before the Lancashire Post reported interest from a New York firm.
North End have been owned by the Hemmings’ since 2010. After Trevor Hemmings CVO passed away in October 2021, his son Craig – chairman of the club – assumed the responsibility. Grayson – who managed the club from 2013-2017 – says that a steady hand on the wheel is not to be taken for granted.
Grayson told Football League World, via freebets.com, “Well, I think first and foremost, the Hemmings family have been immense for the football club and the city.” “In the world of football, it’s rare to find a team with very little debt, so the appreciation people should have for the money they’ve contributed and the extent of it is high.
To ensure that the proper owners arrive and that the price is right for them, a great deal of diligence will be required. It’s okay for people to come in and boast about their wealth, but how many times have people purchased clubs without making the proper investments or taking them to the next level?
Preston is one of those teams that has been connected to takeovers in the past, but previous deals have fallen through because the parties weren’t a good fit. At some point, Craig and the other family members may conclude that “these are the right people, with the right money and backing to take the club forward.”
But that’s one to watch out for for the time being. It is just undesirable for the football team to shift from being one of the most stable in the nation and highly stable to one that is more erratic, has a lot of ambition, and has no accountability.”
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