Tranmere the subject of takeover bid

Last updated : 29 April 2008 By Matthew Jones
Rumours are today circling in the local press that Tranmere Rovers are set to be invested in, if not bought out, by a Portuguese investment company.

A debt of around £5,700,000 million hangs over Tranmere's heads, this owed to owner Peter Johnson. The successful local businessman first saved Tranmere from closure in 1987, before pumping millions of pounds into the club over almost the next decade, as, under the management of John King, Tranmere went from the brink of bankruptcy to play-off contenders for prommotion to the Premier League.

With Johnson's money, Tranmere were able to buy prestigous players such as John Aldridge and record signing Shaun Teale, but this money is now owed to Johnson. Indeed, it is believed that over recent years, this debt has been the stumbling block for takeover moves from a number of parties, including Jason McAteer, Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler.

Many fans hope though that his debt doesn't prove to be such a stumbling block for the Portuguese company, who had a takeover move for Tranmere's League One rivals Swindon Town fall-through in October 2007.