Charlton Athletic’s proposed owners have suffered a blow having failed an EFL test.
Manchester-based Paul Elliott took control of the Addicks’ ownership company East Street Investments (ESI) in June, but the EFL have not approved the applications of three directors.
Elliott has previously claimed he will not reveal the make-up of the consortium that now owns ESI until the EFL approves their takeover.
Yet the EFL have now issued a statement revealing that three people have failed their ownership test.
The statement said: “At its meeting earlier this week, the EFL Board was asked to consider Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT) applications lodged by Charlton Athletic in respect of a number of different individuals.
“Following a full and comprehensive appraisal of all the relevant matters the Board determined that three individuals were subject to a Disqualifying Condition and the EFL declined to approve their applications. Those individuals have 14 days to appeal the decision.
“The EFL continues to consider applications from other individuals under the OADT.”
Charlton continue to be under a transfer embargo as their ownership dispute drags on.
The Addicks have also threatened a legal challenge over the decision to impose Sheffield Wednesday’s points deduction in 2020/21 rather than 2019/20, which effectively saved the Owls from relegation to League One at Charlton’s expense.
Elliott is hoping to become Charlton’s third new owner in seven months after Tahoon Nimer, the original owner of ESI, bought the club from Roland Duchatelet in January.
Yet the takeover soon turned sour after Nimer fell out with board members Matt Southall and Jonathan Heller.
That saw Elliott buy a majority shareholding in the company but the EFL are yet to be convinced by his ownership application.
