Notts County owner says he regrets buying Club

Alan Hardy

Notts County owner Alan Hardy has said he now regrets buying the club – despite the fact he was always confident that the Magpies would escape relegation from the Football League.

Notts, a founder member of the Football League in 1888, will begin next season in the National League after disastrous season that saw the Club employ three managers and finish in 23rd place in League Two.

Hardy told The Mirror that last-day relegation after defeat at Swindon Town has left him “shocked”.

He said: “It is hard to comprehend when you have given two years of your life to making Notts County better. We felt we could win this league, and there is a thin line between League One and League Two so I was positive we would get to the Championship in four or five years.”

Hardy is looking to sell the Magpies, with a South African consortium the favourites to take over. A deal could be completed this week, according to sources.

However, he told The Mirror that he now regrets buying it in the first place.

He said: “It is 51-49 call and I have to just come down on the side of regretting it.

“I expected the next two years of my life to be a successful, fun-filled adventure but it was the wrong sort of adventure with the demise of Paragon and Notts County’s relegation.

“It has been a horrendous six months – the worst of my life.

“On paper it has cost me £35m. My wife is not happy – she didn’t want me to buy Notts County in the first place. We all know money can’t buy you success, but it normally gives you a pretty good chance of it.”

Notts County are favourites to bounce straight back to the Football League next season, according to the bookies.

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