A former chairman of Charlton Athletic has agreed to acquire 25% of League Two football club Rochdale AFC.
Matthew Southall is to buy his shares from Andy Curran and Darrel Rose's Morton House MGT group, whose bid to take over the club collapsed several weeks ago.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Mr Southall was approached by an intermediary on behalf of Morton House, who were looking to off-load the 42% of shares in Rochdale acquired when the group was attempting to take control of the Crown Oil Arena club.
READ MORE: Proposed takeover of League Two club Rochdale collapses after EFL launches probe
Mr Southall left the London club last year in controversial circumstances and now lives in Dubai but also has a home in Worsley and a wife who attended Bury Grammar School.
He declined to comment when contacted by the MEN.
His input comes as the club are set to issue new shares to fans and new investors in an attempt to protect the club from falling prey to any new takeover bids.
Stakeholders have been invited to an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Wednesday next week (October 6), where nearly £200,000 worth of shares (397,043) will be available at about £2 each.
Current Rochdale chairman Simon Gauge said the aim of the share issue was to dilute Morton House's share ownership from 42% to below the 30% threshold to comply with English Football League (EFL) rules.
Mr Gauge said he wants to protect the fan-owned club from future takeover bids by issuing new shares for existing shareholders, directors and 'new people who want to invest in the club' - possibly season ticket holders.
He said: "I will not be speaking to Mr Southall and he will not be allowed to attend the EGM.
"If he buys 25% of shares from Morton House, he could up with a much lesser stake after other supporters, directors and shareholders have bought the additional shares, but that is his business."
