Notts County takeover gets League approval

The takeover which led to League Two club Notts County appointing Sven-Goran Eriksson as director of football and recruiting Sol Campbell has been cleared by the Football League, it was announced on Tuesday.

The League wanted more details regarding who was behind Munto Finance, a Switzerland-based consortium of Middle Eastern investors which has bought the Midlands club.

But officials said on Tuesday the owners of County, who play in the fourth and lowest tier of full-time English professional football, had passed their fit and proper persons test even though their identities had still to be made public.

A Football League statement said: “The Football League has confirmed that Notts County Football Club has complied with its regulations on fit and proper persons.

“This decision is based on the extensive disclosure provided by the club with regard to its ownership structure. This structure is complicated, and features both offsh

ultimate owners to identify themselves, this made for a lengthy and at times difficult process.

“However, following greater co-operation from the club more recently, the League is now in a position to confirm that it is in possession of the appropriate details for those individuals that exercise control over the club.”

The League statement added: “It is a matter for the club to determine what ownership information it makes public.”

Munto Finance is reportedly backed by Dubai billionaire Abdullah Bin Saeed Al Thani.

Former England coach Eriksson, who on Tuesday announced he had pulled out of the running to become manager of his native Sweden, stunned the world of football by joining County in the close season after 10 torrid months in charge of Mexico’s national side.

Last week, County sacked manager Ian McParland despite a largely positive start to the season. County are currently fifth in the table, six points behind leaders Bournemouth.