League Two side Notts County Owner Ray Trew has "agreed to sell the club to local businessman Alan Hardy," according to Michael Cantillon of SKY SPORTS. Trew bought County in '10 for £1, "saving the club with it on the brink of administration." After protracted negotiations lasting several months, Trew "agreed to sell the club and his 100% stake to Magpies supporter Alan Hardy." Sources understand that "the takeover will not be formalised until the New Year, with Hardy keen to complete a thorough due diligence on the club's accounts before committing to a legal agreement." A temporary deal was reportedly finalized "late on Sunday," with Hardy offering up the £300,000 ($372,000) the club needed to "stave off a winding up order from HM Revenue and Customs due to be heard in the High Court on Monday" (SKY SPORTS, 12/19). The BELFAST TELEGRAPH reported Notts County has been "thrown a lifeline following news that a new owner is taking over." An application by HMRC to "have the club wound up" was adjourned on Monday at London's High Court until Feb. 6 to give Hardy "time to settle the club's outstanding tax debt." How much the taxman is owed "was not revealed in court," but other creditors supported the adjournment (BELFAST TELEGRAPH, 12/19).
LADIES LEFT OUT?: The BBC reported Notts County has "refused to comment on a document which has appeared at Companies House" which suggests Notts County Ladies Football Club Ltd. will be "dissolved." Trew, who wants to sell the League Two club, also owns Women's Super League team Notts County Ladies. The document said that Notts County Ladies Ltd. "will be dissolved two months from" Dec. 13. The club "would not say what this means for the women's team" (BBC, 12/16).
