An Ipswich-based solicitor believes the Land Registry priority searches lodged by Gamechanger 20 Ltd - the company set up by the US consortium in the process of buying the Blues - are a strong indicator that a conditional contract relating to the takeover is already in place or the deal is close to being concluded.

As TWTD revealed last week, Playford Road is the subject of a priority search regarding an intended purchase by Gamechanger 20, which was lodged on February 23rd by a law firm, Gateley PLC.

The Bent Lane site - which was transferred to London & Merchant Properties Limited (then known as Marcus Evans (Guernsey) Ltd) in 2011 largely for tax reasons - is subject to a similar search but only in respect of part of the site with TWTD having previously revealed that owner Marcus Evans will keep hold of part of that land following the takeover, presumably an area which has long been ear-marked for development between existing housing.

Among the directors of Gamechanger 20 Ltd are Mike O’Leary, the former West Brom chief executive and Oxford board member thought to be driving the deal, as well as Brett Johnson, Berke Bakay and Mark Detmar, co-owners of USL club Phoenix Rising, and Edward Schwartz, who is understood to be an Ohio-based portfolio manager.

Paul Munnings, a commercial property associate at Ipswich-based solicitors Prettys, has written a blog in which he assesses the significance of the searches, having also posted on the subject on the TWTD Forum.

“Priority searches have been lodged through HM Land Registry by a national law firm in favour of their client Gamechanger 20 Limited regarding three parcels of land — the club’s Playford Road and Bent Lane training centres on the outskirts of Ipswich which are owned by Marcus Evans Group,” he writes.

“A priority search is typically only carried out in the immediate days before an exchange of contracts so this is likely to mean that a conditional contract for the takeover of the club is already in place.

“The fact that the searches remain on the register at the time of writing suggests a deal has likely been agreed or is imminent and may be announced by the English Football League in the coming days.”

As previously reported, the deal has already progressed to the EFL for their ratification.

Responding to the comments made in the blog, a Town spokesperson told Suffolk News: “Marcus Evans issued a statement to supporters last week and we have nothing further to add.”

Photo: Matchday Images

rabbit added 16:03 - Mar 9 Im surprised Gilsey that you say Bluearmy_81 is not abusive, let's just look at his attempt to bully others on this site, even on this item he has attempted to force his point by suggesting that by not agreeing with him you can't be an ITFC supporter. As far as abusive is concerned again those that have a different point of view to him have recently been dubbed as “ ignorant, easily taken in, happy clappers, deluded, naïve, gullible, a Norwich fan, sycophantic, subservient, a serf”. all sound like insults to me. These are just a few of the recent insults. He also claims to know football!! This is his post, copied and pasted, after, I assume, watching the Accrington Stanley match “Really positive performance, Nsiala and Wilson were immense, we passed the ball with so much more zip and purpose, really looking to get on the front foot and take cthe fane to the opposition, so different to a month or so ago”. Any of us that watched this match against the 10 men knew that this was absolutely no description of the game!!

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Bluearmy_81 added 17:48 - Mar 9 You must have led a sheltered life rabbit! As I've said, strong opinions but I've never erred into abuse. I may well think certain types of acquiescent fans are happy clappers or are acting like serfs, that's well within my rights. That's far from abusive. Too many snowflakes these days offended by anything
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rabbit added 18:27 - Mar 9 "Snowflakes" and "sheltered lives" haha, brilliant Bluearmy_81 certainly ticks your box. How is the old psychology business going?
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Bluearmy_81 added 19:41 - Mar 9 Don't tell me you're offended by that too rabbit?!! 😂😂 Bless ya
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rabbit added 07:44 - Mar 10 Not in the least Bluearmy_81 as far as sheltered lives are concerned and being a snowflake precisely sums you up. No bottle but loud from a keyboard, pretend to be an activist but actually do nothing but rant from the safety of your room. You have never played football at mans level either and can't get to see the team "you love" more than a couple of times a season!!! Looking forward to your match report on the Lincoln match haha......oh hold on you will have had the chance to read other reviews by the time you have read this so you can copy some of them.

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shakytown added 07:20 - Mar 31 Spot on Rabbit. He's just another keyboard hero who thinks he knows better than everyone else and constantly regurgitates the same old drivel hour after hour day after day. Thats really pathetic what?????
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