Notts County owner ready to save Ilkeston FC

Alan Hardy

Notts County owner Alan Hardy could be about to save stricken non-league club Ilkeston FC, according to reports.

On Monday, Ilkeston were given seven days to come up with the £14,438 it owes to Hire Intelligence by the High Court.

Ilkeston chairman Nigel Harrop announced immediately before the decision that he had struck a deal to save the club over the weekend by selling it to All Eight Sports.

Hardy is reported to have been in talks with Harrop, who has given All Eight Sports until midnight last night (7 June) to complete the deal to buy Ilkeston.

If the deal doesn’t go through, Hardy says he will step in and take control of the club after being given the go-ahead to by the Football League.

Hardy told the Nottingham Post: “Ilkeston is a fantastic non-league club and one that should be at the heart of its community.

“It has a fantastic track record of developing players over the years, possesses a wonderful little ground and also boasts a fantastic academy.

“It seems a real shame that this could all go to waste and I don’t want to let that happen.

“As someone who believes in having a thriving community football club, I have spoken to Nigel about the situation.

“I had two hours with him on the phone so I know what needs to be done.”

Hardy later tweeted: “Ensuring [Ilkeston FC’s] survival is paramount to Nottingham as a major footballing city and especially to the local Ilkeston community.”

Ilkeston have until next Monday (12 June) to find a buyer or risk going under for the second time in seven years.

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