A consortium fronted by a former Premier League striker is reportedly in advanced talks to secure a takeover bid for a League One club
A consortium fronted by a former Premier League striker is reportedly in advanced talks to secure a takeover bid for a League One club. However, the player also holds the key to saving a National League club from liquidation.
Former Everton, West Brom and Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe, 38, is said to be fronting a consortium which is in advanced talks to secure a bid to buy Bromley.
It’s reported by Pete O’Rourke that the consortium is already heavily involved in club matters. But Anichebe is also part of a consortium that is still involved with bottom-of-the-table National League Gateshead, who are on the brink of liquidation over crippling debts.
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Gateshead could be wound up after they were reportedly given a Wednesday deadline before formal demands are made on them.
According to the Daily Mail, the club were given just seven days to clear their outstanding PAYE and VAT payments, thought to be worth over £200,000. It’s also believed that players and staff were not paid for their work last month.
The club could be saved by a potential takeover deal from American private investment group Flacks Group, but a deal is currently being held up by Shoreline Limited.
Anichebe, who played 11 times for Nigeria and spent 10 consecutive years in the top flight, including eight of those at Everton, fronts Shoreline.
The company attempted to buy Gateshead during the 2024/2025 season and is required to sign a waiver over money they claim they are owed by the club’s former shareholders.
If the waiver is signed, then the Flacks Group would be clear to take control of the club. And Shoreline would reportedly be able to pursue their owed money from shareholders separately.
Anichebe’s company are now thought to be in talks to purchase League One side Bromley, who gained promotion from League Two last season but sit bottom of the third tier.
Promotion-winning manager Andy Woodman was sacked at the end of October after five-and-a-half years, guiding the club into the Football League and winning the League Two title last year.
Bromley are set to appoint former Liverpool coach and Salford City manager Karl Robinson as boss, with Jermain Defoe as assistant.