Property developer likely buyer for Port Vale
THE Lancashire property developer who has been named as preferred bidder for Port Vale Football Club has been quick to reassure fans that he is not planning to build houses on the site of its Vale Park ground.
Keith Ryder is looking to to acquire the club through a new company – Port Vale FC Limited.
He was named preferred bidder yesterday by the club’s administrators, Bob Young, Gerald Krasner and Steve Currie of insolvency specialist Begbies Traynor.
In a statement Ryder said he wants to “bring the good times back to Burslem.”
The joint administrators said that they had considered five bids for the football club before recommending the Ryder one.
They are currently negotiating a non-refundable deposit with the preferred bidder which will grant Ryder exclusivity to continue with the purchase process. It is likely to be received sometime this week.
Details of the offer are not being released but Begbies Traynor expects that all relevant paperwork will be available to creditors by next week.
Ryder was unable to attend yesterday’s press conference, but did prepare a short statement.
“We at Port Vale FC are happy to be named as the preferred bidder for Port Vale Football Club,” he said.
“We are excited about the future of the football club and believe the club currently has the basis infrastructure to become a Championship club.
“We will look to meet with supporters and other stakeholders in the coming weeks. We hope that fans will continue to support the Vale and together we will bring back the glory days to Burslem.”
