NORTHWICH Vics’ Marston’s Arena home is to be sold within a matter of weeks.
Club owner Jim Rushe has confirmed that he is in talks with various businessmen about mounting a bid to buy the ground, currently owned by a global finance firm.
The stadium was seized by Deloitte & Touche after former ground owner Mike Connett’s company Beaconet went into receivership.
If a future consortium is successful in bidding for the Marston’s Arena then the town’s biggest football club will have taken a huge step forward in tackling its financial problems.
Jim Rushe said: “The bank want to sell the ground as soon as possible to the highest bidder and that is what we are trying to be.
“I am talking to a number of people interested and negotiations are continuing. Hopefully we will soon be in a position to make a bid for the ground and then we can take the club forward.
“Obviously it is difficult times given the economic climate but we are doing our best.
“It will happen in a matter of weeks rather than months.”
Northwich Vics Supporters Trust are keeping their fingers crossed that the new owners of the ground, whoever they turn out to be, will be sympathetic to the football club’s needs.
Chairman Peter Grimes said: “Apart from the financial benefits, having the ground back will allow the supporters to have a home they can call their own. We will also be able to use the ground as our base for organising off-the-field initiatives to help take the club forward.
“Under the previous ownership, we have been forced to hire out the town’s Floatel for meetings.”
On the pitch, Vics travel to the Raymond McEnhill Stadium on Saturday to face a Salisbury City side that have been forced to transfer-list five of their best players due to financial problems.
Northwich manager Steve King is still waiting for his first win since joining the club two weeks ago but he sees the Blue Square Premier clash as the perfect chance.
He said: “I don’t fear anyone going into any game. We should have beaten Burton and we got a point at Stevenage and that says a lot.
“Salisbury have a few problems at the moment and they have got to get rid of five of their best players but they may well be resolute and dig in. They are a wounded animal so it will be a tough game.”
King is hoping to make some more additions to the squad and has stated he would like to bring Salisbury striker and England C international Matt Tubbs to Northwich.
King has already managed to lure Will Antwi on a month’s loan from Wycombe Wanderers and Scunthorpe’s Peter Winn has agreed to extend his loan with Vics until the new year.
King added: “What we are trying to do won’t happen overnight. What I am all about is playing total football and that takes time.
“I have inherited this squad of players so it will take time for us to build, but in the end we will be where I want us to be and hopefully playing pure football.”
For a match report of Vics’ trip to Salisbury City, log on to our website www.northwichchronicle.co.uk
