The club denied that his attempted resignation the day before the Lincoln City match was down to the state of the takeover. Collins subsequently said he felt he was letting down his players and the supporters by promising a takeover would happen and seeing that progress was slowing. He had a meeting with Michael Knighton on the morning of the Lincoln game and was assured that the deal was going to plan. In the fortnight since, there have been no fresh developments and a plan for Courtenay to personally pay off the PFA loan has had to be shelved. Collins can still not sign any new players and the deadline falls on March 28. Courtenay is due to fly to the Far East on business next week and it is highly unlikely that he will remain in negotiations if a deal is not completed by then. Meanwhile, Collins is hoping to halt Scunthorpe's play-off push at Glanford Park tomorrow. He will be without Steve Soley again as the midfielder's foot has swollen after he broke his toe in the game against Swansea. Soley has vowed to play on, even if it means wearing one boot bigger than the other, but the club are unlikely to risk him until the toe has fully healed. Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws has been linked with the vacant job over the Humber Bridge at Hull City but has said nothing and intends to see out the season. The Iron damaged the Boothferry Park outfit's own play-off hopes recently with a 1-0 away win. Brian Little was sacked soon afterwards. United contender Batchelor takes over at Bootham Crescent Touring car supremo John Batchelor was today unveiled as York City's new owner in a press conference at Bootham Crescent. Last October Mr Batchelor, who drove as John B&Q in this year's British Touring Car championship, entered into confidential talks with Michael Knighton with a view to buying Carlisle United. However he withdrew his interest soon afterwards when it emerged that financial information was being withheld by Mr Knighton. Mr Batchelor was one of several contenders for a takeover at troubled York, who were put up for sale by their chairman Douglas Craig at the end of January. In contrast to the protracted takeover talks at Carlisle, the Minstermen have been sold in a relatively short time period. Mr Craig had threatened to resign City from the league on April 1 if a buyer could not be found. York fans formed a supporters' trust in the wake of the crisis and they will be hoping to purchase a stake off Batchelor and put a supporter's representative onto the board. Roddy Collins - News & Star CUFC Online would like to apologise for misleading visitors to the site yesterday with regard to the story about the local newspaper being banned from Brunton Park. Although Roddy Collins did ban the newspaper, the reason for it was an interview they carried out with him in regard to the acquittal of his brother Steve Collins on road rage charges and not the opinion piece they put out on the back page about the current state of the takeover negotiations. Picture from News & Star |
