Nottingham businessman Alan Hardy said that "he has completed the takeover" of League Two side Notts County, according to the BBC. The purchase from Ray Trew was "expected to go through on Monday, but a dispute over who pays a loan" of more than £1M ($1.2M) delayed the deal by 48 hours. But Hardy posted on Twitter to "confirm the issues had been resolved and he would appoint a new boss on Thursday." Hardy wrote, "Finally got there guys. New world starts today." Notts has lost its past 10 League Two matches and has "been without a manager since John Sheridan was sacked" on Jan. 2. The club is also the "subject of a winding-up petition brought by HM Revenue & Customs" and has until Feb. 6 to settle any outstanding debts. But Hardy, 52, "vowed to pay the bill as part of the deal when the takeover went through" (BBC, 1/11). In Nottingham, Leigh Curtis reported David Flitcroft has "held talks with Notts County about the vacant manager's job at Meadow Lane." Flitcroft, sacked by League One side Bury last November, is "among the bookies' favourites" to succeed Sheridan (NOTTINGHAM POST, 1/11).
