Three '˜serious parties' are interested in buying Peterborough Panthers

Peterborough Panthers fanst at last Saturday's meeting.

The city club was placed up for sale last week with owner Ged Rathbone bringing his four-year tenure to an end.

The Middlesbrough-based businessman told the Peterborough Telegraph that he has been involved in dialogue with ‘three serious parties’ who are keen on the SGB Championship outfit.

And he has also stressed that Panthers are guaranteed to race on in 2019 even if no deal can be struck.

Rathbone said: “There have been plenty of emails and calls about the club. I would say there are three serious parties interested.

“Something could potentially be tied up pretty quickly, but it needs to be the right deal with the right people.

“This is a serious business and a successful club. Anyone who thinks they are going to be able to pick it up for next-to-nothing is simply wasting my time.

“Regardless of what happens this winter - whether or not the club is sold - Peterborough will definitely be racing next year.

“There is absolutely no threat to the future of the club and it is important our supporters all realise that.

“I won’t simply close a business I have so much finance tied up in, but I have to stress again that in an ideal world someone will come in to buy the club and try to take it on to the next level.”

Rathbone stepped in to save Panthers in late 2014 and then completed a full purchase from previous owner Rick Frost a couple of years later.

His four-year reign has included three trophy triumphs with Panthers lifting the SGB Championship KO Cup and Fours last year, and also retaining the latter piece of silverware this summer.

Rathbone has denied speculation in the sport that his sale of Panthers will be followed by a purchase of his local club, Redcar.

He admits to having held an interest in buying the Bears earlier this year, but no deal could be struck.

n Panthers are staging a Fans’ Forum tomorrow (Friday October 19) at the Post Office Club, starting at 7.30pm.

Entry is free of charge and all supporters are welcome to attend.