RADCLIFFE Borough supremo Bernard Manning is spearheading an ambitious consortium bidding to take charge of Oldham Athletic.

Mr Manning (38) stressed that a group of "four or five" wealthy local businessmen were still finalising their offer for the club.

Middleton-based brewery company J. W. Lees has been the club's major shareholder with 48 per cent for the last 25 years.

If the consortium can reach agreement with the brewery it will also purchase the 10 per cent of shares owned by the Oldham board, giving them a 58 per cent controlling interest in the club.

But Mr Manning said: "There is another consortium which was in earlier than us but I don't know who they are. We will have to wait and see. It is up to J. W. Lees who they do a deal with if they do one at all. It is their prerogative."

Latics want to build a new stadium in the town and it is unlikely that any business will be done before the project receives the green light. Mr Manning suggested that if the consortium was successful he would sit on the board in some capacity without seeking the chairmanship.

"I am ambitious but it would not be the right time," he explained.

The Boro chief will take advice on whether he would have to sever his Stainton Park connections in order to become involved at Oldham.

Mr Manning has already sold off his business portfolio to free up cash for the Boundary Park bid.

But he warned: "A lot depends on whether the new stadium gets off the ground. The land on which the club wants to build is subject to a Charity Commission covenant and the Government will decide if the club can build on it in the next few weeks. If they get the go-ahead the council will build the ground."

It is understood that the consortium has a commitment to team building and carrying the club back into the higher echelons of English soccer.

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