The US-based consortium trying to buy Nottingham Forest failed with a renewed offer this week as they revealed they had lent the Sky Bet Championship club funds to cover wages in November and December.
John Jay Moores and Charles Noell made an improved bid to buy 100 per cent of Forest from current owner Fawaz al-Hasawi, having seen a proposed takeover collapse last Friday. But the deal was rejected by Kuwaiti businessman Al-Hasawi, who took over at the City Ground in 2012.
In a statement, the American duo said that, despite the setback, they were still interested in buying the club. “We have been firmly committed to completing the acquisition since we opened negotiations in August and we remained optimistic throughout that the sale would be completed,” they said.
“That the deal remains incomplete is not due to any lack of immediately available capital, belief, desire, action or ability on the part of either ourselves or our advisory team.
“We will remain interested in following Forest’s performance with a view to perhaps re-engaging with the ownership about acquiring the club in the future.”