A Suffolk solicitor has unearthed new information that could shed a light on the possible sale of Ipswich Town Football Club.
Speculation Blues’ owner, Marcus Evans, is looking to sell the club has grown in recent weeks with him issuing a statement saying no acceptable deal is currently on the table.
However, research carried out by Paul Munnings, commercial property associate at Ipswich-based solicitors Prettys, suggests a deal could be close.
He said: “Priority searches have been lodged through HM Land Registry by a national law firm in favour of their client Gamechanger 20 Limited regarding three parcels of land – the club’s Playford Road and Bent Lane training centres on the outskirts of Ipswich which are owned by marcus evans Group.
“A priority search is typically only carried out in the immediate days before an exchange of contracts so this is likely to mean that a conditional contract for the takeover of the club is already in place.
“The fact that the searches remain on the register at the time of writing suggests a deal has likely been agreed or is imminent and may be announced by the English Football League in the coming days.”
This research confirms what Ipswich Town supporters have been speculating over recent weeks, with the departure of manager Paul Lambert and the appointment of new manager Paul Cook a key indicator that something more was happening behind the scenes.
If the deal goes through, the League One club will be owned by football investors Brett M Johnson, Berke Bakay and Mark Detmer, who are behind US sides Phoenix Rising FC, FC Tucson and Danish side FC Helsingor.