American investment trio Glenn Fuhrman, Robert Platek and John Phelan have submitted an application to Companies House to strike off the company they established to buy Sunderland AFC.
As the trio went through due diligence last September, they set up FPP Sunderland Ltd with Companies House, which was intended to be the vehicle they used to buy the club from Stewart Donald.
However, for whatever reason during the process of their attempted takeover, it was instead decided that they would not buy the club, and made a loan to Madrox - the holding company Donald used to buy the club - for a fee in the region on £9million.
Although the details of the loan have never been made public, they explain why they have requested to dissolve the FPP Sunderland company, which is no longer required.
With Donald now actively looking to sell Sunderland AFC, the Americans are not believed to be interested in a full takeover of the club, but could end up owning the company by default, if Madrox defaulted on the repayment of the loan.
No details were given of the timeframe with which Donald had to pay the money back, but were he to default on that repayment that Fuhrman, Platek and Phelan would own Madrox, which the loan was secured against. As Madrox owns the football club and its property, including the Stadium and Academy of Light, the FPP Sunderland company is essentially redundant now.
Donald, however, claimed that he would not default on that repayment.
Earlier this week reports suggested two separate groups were interested in a takeover of the Wearside football club and serious discussions had taken place, but neither are believed to be connected to the FPP trio. Donald is said to be asking for £40m, however, which is said to be holding up any potential sale.
