BREAKING NEWS: Vics find their white knight?

11:45pm Thursday 11th October 2007

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A GROUP of Manchester businessmen have launched a last-ditch bid to save Northwich Victoria.

Spokesman Jim Rushe tonight told supporters that they had reached an agreement with Mike Connett to buy the club.

His revelation was met with spontaneous applause.

"We've shook hands on a deal," he said.

"As long as he Connett sticks to what he has said then we will go forward from here."

Rush and his four colleagues, which include former Woodley Sports chairman Ian Campbell, now need to persuade HM Revenue and Customs that they are able to pay off at least some of Vics' £350,000 tax bill.

They have hired Bury business advisors DTE to negotiate with the UK's tax department from tomorrow morning, Friday.

"We are a group of football fans who each run small businesses," Rushe told fans at a public meeting at the Floatel.

"All of us have been looking to buy into a club for the past 18 months.

"We were going to start out at North West Counties level because we did not expect a Conference National club to be available.

"Obviously the figures are different and we will need more money."

Should their plan work then the club will become tenants of Connett's Beaconet company that owns the Victoria Stadium, much in the same way it is now.

The Guardian understands that arrangement would be rent free until the end of the current campaign.

However the most likely scenario is that Northwich Victoria Football Club (2004) Limited would have to go into administration, meaning Rush's co-operative may be able to pay less than the amount currently owed to HM Revenue and Customs.

For now their immediate aim is to get an adjournment of Wednesday's planned winding-up hearing at the High Court of Justice.

"It's a dream for all of us," said Rushe, who revealed only that he owned a leisure business'.

"We want to be involved in football and give this a real go."