Prospective buyer pulls out of Wakefield deal

Yorkshire businessman Steve Parkin, who made an unsuccessful attempt to take over Leeds United Football Club six years ago, was thought to be in the running to buy the Wildcats once they went into administration.

A hearing to appoint Batley-based insolvency experts O’Hara and Company as administrators was due to take place in court in Leeds this morning and it was hoped to at least agree a sale of the club before Wakefield start the new season at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow.

“We were hopeful that a sale could be agreed today but the interested party’s solicitor contacted our solicitor at quarter to five yesterday to say they weren’t going to proceed,” said O’Hara spokesman Simon Weir.

“We are talking to other interested parties but that person seemed to be in the driving seat. Subject to us being appointed as administrators, we would hope to speak to him to see if we can rekindle his interest.”

Another local businessman, Andrew Glover, has also expressed interest in taking over the Wildcats, who applied to go into administration to avoid a winding-up petition brought by HM Revenue and Customs over an unpaid tax bill thought to be in excess of £300,000.

That hearing, due in the High Court nine days ago, was adjourned for a fortnight.