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JOHN Fenty has responded to reports linking a new name with Grimsby Town on the back of this summer’s takeover and relocation talk.
Colin Dodd, a solicitor behind a failed takeover bid at Notts County, was the subject of speculation following a company name change which was reported in an article published by Nottinghamshire Live. The report says that Mr Dodd created a company called Meadow Lane Project Limited in April when he was hoping to complete a purchase of the non-league club from previous owner Alan Hardy. It has since been renamed Blundell Park Project Limited after a resolution was filed at Companies House.
However, while that fuelled speculation, majority shareholder Mr Fenty has moved quickly to quash the rumours.
Speaking to BBC Radio Humberside, he said: “It’s a strange one and it’s news to me. All I can tell you is we are in dialogue with Tom Shutes about his aspirations to acquire the club – we are awaiting his further proposals and responses.
“Otherwise, this is pure speculation of which I can’t make any further comment.
“We have been working with Tom Shutes to acquire the football club. Where this speculation is coming from, I’m just perplexed. “I have only just been informed of this, so to suggest someone is using the Blundell Park name is a strange one to say the least.
“It’s pure speculation, it’s news to me and I can’t make any further comment. We are talking with Tom Shutes about his intentions to purchase the club.
Back in June, Grimsby Live reported that Mr Shutes – a Londonbased businessman and philanthropist – was the man behind one bid to assume control of Grimsby Town FC. Those reports were later confirmed by Mr Fenty, who has spoken on record several times about the club’s ongoing talks with Mr Shutes, which date back more than 12 months.
On the club’s ongoing talks with Mr Shutes, Mr Fenty added: “If we set somebody a deadline that would be foolhardy.
“If the deadline came and went – then next week they came up with something that meant they could proceed with some glamorous plans that took Grimsby forward and Grimsby Town forward, we would look silly.
“So to make a deadline, as it stands, doesn’t seem worth the hot air that you might subscribe to it. “When all is said and done, we want to make less comment. What we have said before is in the public domain and is there for people to see.
“When there is a next step, we will be public about that and let the fans and wider public know.”