David Elliott and David Walker from BKR Haines Watts have indicated they will put any buyout offer from the two men on the table at the creditors meeting on August 2 - alongside their own CVA proposals which centre around a £2 million loan which will be provided by a company owned by partners in BKR Haines Watts itself. Fans have vowed to boycott home games next season if a takeover doesn't go through before kick-off and are ready to scupper any rescue plan that allows the Knighton family to retain control. Michael Knighton told BBC Radio Cumbria yesterday that he has been in talks with a mystery third party and that he is now "99 per cent" certain to sell to them - but it appears this buyer will PULL OUT of any deal if the Courtenay-Mileson offer is better for the club as a whole. Lord Clark of Windermere, a leading member of fans' trust CCUIST, is reported to have met the third party and can vouch for their genuine intentions. Lord Clark has been offering his services as an intermediary in talks for some time. Knighton has failed to sell the club to a host of interested buyers over the past three years. Recently he indicated he was after £2.5 million to sell his holding company which owns 93 per cent of the shares in United. Courtenay said yesterday: "We are presently arranging to put an offer to the administrator but we advise no breath holding as it's unclear in the CVA (Creditors Voluntary Arrangement) exactly what is for sale and by whom. Anyway we will hang in there for the moment." A lot of the problems in past negotiations seem to have stemmed from the holding company which also owns a tract of land near Brunton Park and several properties on Warwick Road. In addition it is believed to own properties including a wine bar in Derbyshire. The holding company has borrowed money in the past and lent it to the football club to consolidate debts. It is understood Mr Knighton will only sell the holding company and not the football club itself. One option for Courtenay is to make an offer for just the footballing assets of the business. In this case a new company could be created to acquire the assets and continue in the Football League playing under the name Carlisle United. Any debts would need to be cleared or taken on by the new business. Picture from News & Star |
