PETER Shackleton's backers are also trying to buy Swiss football club FC Basel.

But the Clarets takeover bidder today insisted his deal for Burnley Football Club was still on track.

I can reveal that a businessman based in the South of France, Michel Kupfer, is one of the major players in the Shackleton camp.

But, while Shackleton admitted he had lost all credibility, the former teacher was typically tight-lipped when I tracked him down yesterday.

Shackleton, however, did not deny that his backers were trying to buy a Swiss club.

FC Basel are a similar club to Burnley in having a huge supporter base.

The club narrowly avoided relegation from the first division by winning their final game of the season.

That game attracted 35,000 fans, a record for Swiss domestic football.

Kupfer works for the Barcelona-based company which Shackleton represents and which holds accounts in Switzerland.

Another middle-man in the protracted saga - Ian Burns - is also based in Barcelona.

Kupfer revealed from his home near Montpellier that he was not interested in football.

And he added: "I am not in charge of it all (the takeover) and I do not know if I am allowed to give any details.

"I am not at all interested in soccer - I prefer rugby."

Shackleton said his takeover bid was in the hands of his solicitors

And he refused to reveal the reason why his Duffield house was up for sale. Shackleton said: "It could be for any number of reasons. I do not know what I'm doing.

"I do not want to make any comments about anything as I am under instructions from the solicitors not to say anything.

"What I will say is that the whole thing is unfortunate. I will agree with that.

"It is not true that the wheels have come off.

"You may well think that Michel Kupfer is one of the backers.

"I do know my credibility is zero but that can be changed.

"Everything depends on what happens on the pitch."

Canadian broker Murray MacDowell and Burnley chairman Frank Teasdale were today unavailable for comment.

But the £1 million up-front loan, said to be now in an English account, has not arrived with the Turf Moor bankers.

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