Club attracting interest from potential buyers, but no deal yet close

ANTHONY GEE

ATHLETIC'S board are in contact with groups interested in buying the club, claiming that the feel-good factor of a strong start to the coming season could assist in a takeover.

Chairman Simon Corney's right-hand man, club director Anthony Gee, is charged with attracting potential investors. He says that there has been significant interest from all over the planet.

While actively seeking a buyer both at home and abroad ­- the price that has been put on the football club is not known ­- Gee stressed that no deal is yet close.

The Chronicle understands that one group from the Far East had travelled to see Athletic in action both home and away last term, before their interest fizzled out.

But in order for the football club to reach the next level, Gee says that fresh blood at the top is vital.

"There is nothing imminent, but I do have live communication with three or maybe more groups," Gee told the Chronicle.

"There is a long way to go. It is easy for someone to ring me up and tell me they are interested in this or that. It is a process and these things take time, but I'm working hard to bring in investment.

"I think the club needs it to truly take that next step.

"It would certainly help us to have a good start. When the club was rooted towards the bottom for most of the season, it is pretty hard to attract investment with that sort of scenario.

"At the end of the day, this club geographically is very attractive to people as Manchester is a huge football heartland.

"But as Simon (Corney) has always said, it has to be the right person or the right group to take the club forward.

"There is always interest from the Far East. They are football crazy. But it needs shrewd people with football brains and it's not easy to come in to a club they don't know of previously.

"We have had interest before from the Far East, from Europe and the Middle East."

On the construction of the unfinished £7million North Stand, Gee says that work is due to start again on the upper level soon.

It is nearly two-and-a-half years since the first steel girders were installed and various setbacks have stalled progress. Local contractor Holroy Developments, in charge of the build, recently went into liquidation.

However, it is anticipated that the stand will be complete by the end of the calendar year.

"We have done some work in the stand itself in some of the boxes, trying to make it more of a homely feel," Gee said of the recent activity within.

"We are aiming to start work on the top floor within the next six to eight weeks and have that done certainly in 2016.

"It will be a great boost. It is a great space and can seat up to 450 people for conferences, banqueting and the like and there aren't that many venues in Greater Manchester can hold that many.

"We are desperate to get it finished."

PRESTON defender Calum Woods, who was carried off on a stretcher during Athletic's friendly this week, is out for the season after it was confirmed he had damaged medial and cruciate ligaments in a knee.

Woods (29) suffered the injury when he went in for a challenge with Athletic full-back Jamie Reckord.