This needs to be done at the right time and with the right bidders, so that the team will forge on and in the right direction.
The administrators in charge of finding the best buyer for Torquay United last night announced it has a preferred bidder – but stopped short of saying who that bidder is.
In a move that leaves space wide open for social media speculation, a statement appeared on the club’s website on Tuesday night that read: “Following on from the announcement last Friday that Scott Kippax, Neil Vinnicombe and Simon Haskew of Begbies Traynor have been appointed as joint administrators of the club, extensive work and discussions have been taking place behind the scenes over the past few days.
“TUFC has selected a preferred bidder from among the firm proposals that it received. The club’s long-term future may now be secured, but the chosen bidder will stay unknown for the time being. This news is the most recent and possibly most important to date in that regard.
The Torquay United Supporters’ Trust, Neil Warnock, a former Premiership manager, and a consortium fronted by billionaire Michael Westcott are among the three groups that may have submitted proposals to take the club forward. Fans are eager for more information than that.
It is thought that two other proposals were considered; however, the bidders have not made their identities public. There have been rumours that one of the offers was made by the current director, Mel Hayman, and her father, Ian Hayman.
The issue is that the preferred bidder’s anonymity will create a void on social media as a result of years of little to no information regarding boardroom affairs emerging under former owner Clarke Osborne and his chief executive officer George Edwards. Fans are eager to learn more in the hopes that this will signal the beginning of an open, as opposed to closed, era.
The brief statement went on, saying, “We will keep supporters informed as we can, but in the interim, we would like to express our gratitude to all parties involved in the bidding process, the Club’s employees, the National League, Sport England, Lloyds Bank, the Club’s creditors, and most importantly, our cherished supporters for their diligence, cooperation, kindness.
Leave a Reply