Gamechanger 20 Ltd, the company set up by the US consortium which has been in negotiations to buy Town from current owner Marcus Evans, lodged new priority Land Registry searches relating to the purchase of the Blues’ training ground this morning.

The searches on the entirety of the Playford Road side of the training ground and part of the Bent Lane site across the road were initially put in place on February 23rd by a law firm, Gateley PLC, who made new similar searches earlier today.

A priority search is typically only carried out when a deal is either agreed or very close to being agreed.

The previous searches were due to expire on April 8th so their effective renewal rather than being allowed to lapse is at least an indication that the deal is not yet dead.

TWTD reported a fortnight ago that the £30 million takeover, which was initially expected to be completed earlier this month, had stalled and appears to be drifting. It’s understood that aspects of Evans’s valuation of the club have continued to be part of the ongoing discussion.

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.

As with the previous searches, only part of Bent Lane - which was transferred to London & Merchant Properties Limited (then known as Marcus Evans (Guernsey) Ltd) in 2011 largely for tax reasons - is included with TWTD having previously reported that 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.

No priority searches are required on Portman Road with the land on which the stadium stands on a lease from Ipswich Borough Council which runs until 2094.

Photo: TWTD

johnwarksshorts added 13:25 - Mar 30 This is a positive sign that things are happening behind the scenes. I hope we are just waiting on due diligence and EFL approval. Please for the sake of our wonderful club let this happen. 🙏🙏
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:43 - Mar 30 No surprise, and personally I fully expected this. This is how these deals are done: on - off - on - off. Whether it stops at on or off is still, I think, open to speculation; but Muncher, a commercial property solicitor, seems to think the deal is likely, and I bow to his professional knowledge. I wasn't sure about the whole business, but I'm coming round to thinking it's time for a change.

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Space_Chimp added 14:01 - Mar 30 oh hear are my hopes getting up again then
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:13 - Mar 30 Muncher now you have said all that ,Evans will have a contract out on you ! lol.
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StavangerBlue added 14:21 - Mar 30 Don't believe it.
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:26 - Mar 30 @Timefliesby, you are joking , Evans is not interested in ITFC, All the bullsh#t he spews out means ''F'' all , Initially he thought he would make a killing, it backfired because he didnt know what he was doing, since then he has watched the club go downhill, and showed no interest in reversing that trend.A couple of staged announcements to keep the gullable, and desperate fans renewing season tickets when the dung starts to fly. Its been nothing but a sideline to him .The sooner he is gone the better, the ''careful what you wish for '' crew are happy to see the club wither and die ,so nothing to lose. EVANS OUT. ASAP.

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Timefliesbyintheblue added 15:32 - Mar 30 I believe, like many failed wealthy businessmen before him (Alan Sugar, Barry Hearn) he expected that running ITFC would be easier than it has turned out to be. He has made many mistakes the largest being not appointing a first class director of football, rather than the likes of Clegg, Milne etc. I have never doubted that it would be in all interests if he were to move on. I do though genuinely belief he cares for the club and its future and he would like to safeguard that as much as he can. I am sorry if you disagree with that opinion and my reasoning. We all want the same; a secure future for our club and a successful team; they come hand in hand.

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BromleyBloo added 15:40 - Mar 30 14 years of caring for the club has all but destroyed us - we can't take any more Evans care!!!
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BeattiesBackPocket added 15:52 - Mar 30 Evans supporters ‘he's not a tax dodger' TWTD ‘transferred to London & Merchant Properties Limited (then known as Marcus Evans (Guernsey)) in 2011 largely for tax reasons' Evans supporters ‘stop slagging evans off there's no buyers' TWTD .......... 😂😂😂
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istanblue added 15:56 - Mar 30 This is more important than any new manager appointment or player signings. If Evans remains then ITFC will continue to decline. #EvansOut
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BeattiesBackPocket added 15:57 - Mar 30 For those still supporting evans we could go as low as 13th at the weekend should we carry on our amazing form! I'm all for supporting the team and we still need to whilst it's mathematically possible to get in the playoffs but come on what will it take league two?? National league?? Norwich fans must be p!ssing themselves at our predicament when their club is run so so much better, structured, excellent scouting network, selling assets for the going rate or saying no...everything evans has made us

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BeattiesBackPocket added 15:57 - Mar 30 *Completely the opposite to what evans has made us
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blues1 added 16:39 - Mar 30 My god, theres some idiots about. Has to be some conspiracy theory in everything to some of our fans. It's more likely that simply there was an issue with the efl due diligence, and thats now been sorted. Thus theyve now put in a new,land registry search as the previous one would have run out of time.
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runningout added 17:11 - Mar 30 Don't be naive enough that this will guarantee anything. The clubs in a mess and won't be fixed in weeks. Months maybe???
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runningout added 17:38 - Mar 30 There is still no time for cowardice comments aimed at Marcus Evans.
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Northstandveteran added 17:42 - Mar 30 Oh Blues1.... Must you live so relentlessly in the real world?
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BeattiesBackPocket added 17:58 - Mar 30 Blues1 did you check my post about UEFA getting rid of ffp because you told me to get my facts right on it so I posted a link to show you that news? 👀
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Bluearmy_81 added 18:08 - Mar 30 If we're unlucky enough that Evans stays BBP Blues1 will still believe every word he says and give him an eternal free pass... 😂
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bluesince76 added 19:48 - Mar 30 If this happens their is a god
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Dog added 22:16 - Mar 30 You could build a lot of houses on those sites and get top dollar for them. Whilst it has gone quiet for the last 4 weeks, has anyone scrutinised their (Gamechanger) finances???. Probs not.
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Pencilpete added 23:08 - Mar 30 I said it before and I'll say it again, I cant believe Paul Cook would have taken the job unless he knew the takeover was going through ..... would he really have turned down Championship clubs to come here and work under the conditions that Marcus Evans works under ? Sell your best players, replace them with loanees and freebies ???
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Bert added 23:22 - Mar 30 Why would any sensible and committed supporter down vote a plea for a successful future for our club based on a credible and sound alternative to Evan's tenure ? Time for a bit of common sense and an understanding of what needs to be in place if ITFC is to have a solid financial basis, structure and investment.
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madmouse1959 added 01:11 - Mar 31 However unlikely it might be, has anyone came up with the notion that Evans is just selling a piece of land ? All this media hype could be just another publicity stunt. Good or bad news, it gives ITFC publicity. Maybe Evans is taking lessons from Katie Hopkins. Maybe another Evans payback to the supporters who despise him and want him removed. Or is Evans getting tired of his utter failure to get ITFC playing good football and is now ready to sell up ?

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ArnieM added 07:23 - Mar 31 You could have said me 3 minutes of my life if you'd just posted your last 3 lines , lol 👍
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BangaloreBlues added 08:35 - Mar 31 As stated the last time this was in the news, I'm not believing any of it until there's an official statement. Right to take that stance last time, I am sure as hell taking the same this time. Things like this are just gossip until there is real evidence of anything worthwhile on the table.
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