Tranmere Rovers boss denies takeover talks

Jun 7 2008 by Bill Gleeson, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE Rovers chairwoman Lorraine Rogers has denied talks have taken place to sell the club to a Portuguese investor.

Reports had suggested Tranmere shareholders, including Ms Rogers and Wirral businessman Peter Johnson, were on the brink of a sale.

Speaking on radio show LDP BusinessWeek, Ms Rogers, who is also the chief executive of The Mersey Partnership (TMP), said she had been surprised to read the reports.

She added: “I have never spoken to them and did not know who they were.”

However Ms Rogers, who has been the club’s chairman for nine years, did say the club’s owners were open to offers for Tranmere and would sell to a credible buyer.

She said: “I see it as part of my role as chairman to make sure we have the maximum funds as we can to be as competitive as possible. It is my duty to be on the lookout for investors

“So far there hasn’t been one that fits, but I would not rule it out. If we found the right party, I would have no problem in stepping aside.”

Ms Rogers owns 30% of the club while Mr Johnson holds 60%. Hundreds of small shareholders own the balance.

She was speaking during an interview with Liverpool Daily Post’s business editor to be aired during this Sunday’s LDP Business week show.

The programme, put together by the Daily Post’s business team is broadcast at 11am on CityTalk105.9fm.

Ms Rogers also speaks about the challenges facing TMP in bringing new inward investment and jobs to the region in slowing economic conditions and with limited sales resources.

This week’s show also includes an interview with the recently retired chairman of troubled bank Northern Rock, Bryan Sanderson, who was also previously managing director of oil giant BP.

Mr Sanderson talks about the economic impact of the credit crunch and the current high price of oil.

Jeweller Gerald Ratner speaks about the demise of his Ratners high street chain and his subsequent business comeback.

Tranmere announced at the club’s annual meeting in March that the loan to Mr Johnson was recently formalised and secured against land at the Ingleborough Road training ground, close to Prenton Park.

Tranmere hopes to develop the Ingleborough Road site for housing and plans to use some of the revenue generated by the scheme to build a new training facility on the Wirral.

billgleeson