Notts County deal sealed

It has been a long drawn out saga which started in February but Notts County have been sold by owner Ray Trew to local businessman Alan Hardy.    Trew put the club up for sale after being subjected to what he called ‘mindless abuse’ by fans.  They are the oldest professional football club in the world, having been founded in 1862.

It has been a long drawn out saga which started in February but Notts County have been sold by owner Ray Trew to local businessman Alan Hardy.    Trew put the club up for sale after being subjected to what he called ‘mindless abuse’ by fans.  They are the oldest professional football club in the world, having been founded in 1862.

It’s quite unusual these days to see a local businessman take over a club, and, indeed, County have had their excitements with foreign owners in the past with Sven Goran Eriksson being brought in as director of football at the behest of a convicted fraudster.

Hardy is founder and chief executive of fast-growing Nottingham based firm Paragon Interiors which has won an award as one of the best companies to work for in the country.

County were facing a winding up petition from the Inland Revenue for £350,000, but Hardy has said he will settle their debts.