Rochdale AFC announces 'preferred investor' in the football club
25.03.2024 - 14:51
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Rochdale AFC today announced its 'preferred investor ' in the football club - the family behind a charitable trust who say they intend to make an offer and will provide funds to allow the club to continue operating for the next 30 days.
The Ogden family's charitable trust - The Ogden Trust - was established in 1999 and says on its website it 'exists to promote the teaching and learning of physics'.
Making the announcement, the club said Sir Peter Ogden, who established the trust, and Lady Ogden, who are both trustees, were born in Rochdale.
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In a statement, the family said it intends to make an offer to buy the club after due diligence is completed, but 'time is not on our side'.
It read: "To allow us the necessary time, we are making sufficient funds available to the club to enable it to operate for the next 30 days. By the expiry of that period, we plan to have completed our diligence and formulated and presented our offer such that, assuming it is acceptable to the club, we can conclude an investment before the end of the season."
The development - the latest twist in the story of Dale's future - comes after the expiry of a period of exclusivity with World Soccer Holdings LLC.
The National League Club announced earlier this month that it had entered into a 'period of exclusivity' with the US firm, although the Manchester Evening News understands no official bid to buy Rochdale was made.
Club chairman, Simon Gauge, has warned the club risks liquidation and folding unless a buyer can be found by the end of the month.
In a statement, the club said a further 'period of engagement' would now follow.
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