William Storey is not seen as a credible potential buyer for Sunderland, according to a source within the club.
Over a period of weeks Storey, founder of soft drink firm Rich Energy, has claimed that he is trying to buy the club and yesterday he posted a picture of himself wearing a vintage Sunderland shirt outside the Stadium of Light.
And in the evening he was interviewed by BBC Radio Newcastle and said he has assembled a group of four 'blue-chip' business people prepared to fund a bid for the club, and insisted that his offer was the best deal on the table.
No-one at the club is prepared to go on the record about Storey, however figures behind the scenes have confirmed to ChronicleLive that he is not viewed as a credible buyer and that there is 'no chance' of owner Stewart Donald selling to him.
Instead, as was reported last month, Donald is understood to be in a period of exclusivity with another interested party, and talks remain ongoing with that party over a deal.
Donald is keen to sell and he is hoping that a takeover can be completed before the new League One season gets under way on September 12.
