Carlisle United chief executive Nigel Clibbens has been giving his take on the media speculation surrounding new investment at the club.
He began by citing previous failed negotiations which had been trumpeted by various source.
He told the club’s official website: “When I joined the club in mid-2016, it was already over a year into an investment deal with a Middle Eastern ‘billionaire’ which had started in 2015.
“After nearly two years that ended fruitlessly. That had come after another deal which had been announced to huge media headlines in 2015, but again that had also come to nought.
“I said early on in my role, if ever the club received future investment enquiries they would be handled differently. They have been. It is easy for interested parties to make great promises about their funds and plans.
“The club has had a number of false dawns with investment interest that started with big hype and fanfare, creating huge fan anticipation and expectation, but which then ultimately ended with nothing – except disappointment, reputational damage and acrimony.
“I have consistently said that doing takeover deals in football in a public glare and media spotlight is not conducive to achieving a successful outcome. I still strongly believe that.
“Sometimes, if we all want the best for the club, on key important issues like a takeover, then there has to be an acceptance that the detail of what is going on behind the scenes must stay behind the scenes until it’s right that it should come into the open.”
Clibbens says whatever opportunity for investment arrives, doing a deal is the challenge.
But he did say that the club is getting more calls and enquiries about investment and there is credible interest from people in taking over the club.
The shareholders, board and CUOSC have met people and held discussions which are continuing.
