"We will be open, honest and transparent" - potential new owners of Chesterfield FC send message to Spireites fans

Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council last week each agreed to provide £500,000 loans to support the trust’s bid to buy and initially run the club, subject to final agreement on terms and completion of due diligence.

In a statement the trust said the deal was now at an “advanced stage.”

“We are keen to inform supporters of our plans but we have to wait until the appropriate time to do so,” Mr Goodwin said.

“Once the ownership of the club has been transferred to the trust, we will announce our plans and organise some Q&A sessions to provide supporters with the opportunity to pose questions.

“The trust will be open, honest and transparent with supporters and hope that everyone pulls together and gets behind the club, providing it with a solid base to build on.”

Chesterfield Borough Council has confirmed that last week’s decision to approve the loan has not been ‘called-in’ by any councillors and the five-day period for when this could have happened has now passed meaning the outcome cannot be reversed.

The trust – which is the charitable the arm of the club but is independent – hope to complete the takeover by the end of July.

It is proposed that the two loans will be jointly secured by a legal charge on the club’s stadium.

The loans will be repayable over a 15-year period and will attract a commercial rate of interest, Chesterfield Borough Council said.

Should the trust choose to sell the club at some point in the future, then the councils’ loans would be repaid in full at the point of sale.

Last week Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “We’ve been impressed by the trust’s approach in looking at all aspects of the club’s financial and business affairs.”

And Councillor Barry Lewis, leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “We’re confident that the trust can breathe new life into the club.”