It’s now 123 days since Bishop International Limited was named as the preferred bidder for Plymougth Argyle and with no deal in sight it it is no wonder that the administrators have resumed talks with other possible bidders.
It’s now 123 days since Bishop International Limited was named as the preferred bidder for Plymougth Argyle and with no deal in sight it it is no wonder that the administrators have resumed talks with other possible bidders.
Kevin Heaney, who is the visible face of the mystery Gibraltar-based consortium, insists that the deal is still on and that it is only being held up by the Football League. However, three of his companies, including Blue Square South outfit Truro City, were ordered to pay £10,000 in unpaid legal fees at Plymouth County Court yesterday. Heaney himself admits that his property development business has suffered in the recession.
The most credible alternative bidder is James Brent and his Contingency Committee. However, London businessman Paul Buttivant is also in the frame.
This has been allowed to drag on for a long time and there is no doubt that it is affecting performances on the pitch with the club rooted at the bottom of the Football League. The last thing Argyle need is to be dragged into a relegation battle.
Players and staff have gone largely unpaid for months and manager Peter Reid reasonably argues that their loyalty should be repaid by using the gate money to give them what they are due.