American tycoon makes formal bid for Coventry City

THE American tycoon who has been circling Coventry City has made a formal takeover bid for the club.

A deal put forward by the consortium backed by Preston Haskell IV would buy out current owners Sisu and would also involve owning a half share in the Sky Blues’ Ricoh Arena home.

Haskell is the co-owner of Forum Properties, one of Moscow’s most successful property consultants. He is also a partner in FF&P Real Estate Advisory Holdings and chairman of Office Solutions, a retailer of furniture company Steelcase’s products in the old Soviet Union and other parts of Eastern Europe.

His father, Preston Hampton Haskell III, is founder and chairman of The Haskell Company, the largest privately held construction company in Florida, and a minority owner of an American Football side, Jacksonville Jaguars, who play in the NFL.

Coventry City have been in administration since late March, with debts of £60m.
They have also been embroiled in a legal dispute with Ricoh Arena stadium owner ACL over an unpaid rent claim.

Haskell, who is now based in Sweden, has a fortune estimated at £164m. Last year he was reported to be interested in buying into Leeds United.