Man City to clarify Ranson talk
24/04/2007 |
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Manchester City are expected to release a statement to the Stock Exchange this morning amid reports Ray Ranson has made a £90m offer to buy the club.
Ex-City full-back Ranson, who failed in a bid for Aston Villa, was thought to have made the offer on Monday.
But BBC Radio Five Live understands a bid has yet to be lodged.
City chairman John Wardle earlier this month admitted the club were in talks with potential investors and is thought to be keen to sell.
Reports on Monday claimed former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who failed in a bid for Liverpool in 2004, was interested in buying City with partners from China and the Middle East.
And the club has also been linked with a buy-out from American investors.
Ranson's reported bid was said to cover the club's shares, loans of about £24m to major shareholders John Wardle and David Makin and debts to other creditors.
He is thought to have the backing of other businessmen and prepared to provide a transfer kitty of around £20m for new players.
Ranson, who also played for Birmingham, Newcastle and Reading, made over 200 appearances for City, where he started his career.
The 46-year-old multi-millionaire made his fortune from insurance and from football finance and has also invested in football analysis company Prozone.
He made two bids for Villa before the Midlands club were bought by American billionaire Randy Lerner.
If City were to change hands they would become the fifth Premiership club to be sold in the last year - but the first to stay under British control.
Portsmouth, Villa, West Ham and Liverpool have all been taken over by foreign investors since last summer.
(Source: BBC.co.uk)
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