Peter McGuigan: Everything in place for new owners

The chairman and majority shareholder, who has been at the club for 20 years and in the top job for 16, has made no secret of the fact he has been looking to bring new investment into the club.

On Tuesday however the former Umbro chief made it clear that he thinks now is the time to move on.

Mr McGuigan, who oversaw the club’s promotion to the Football League in 2007. said: “I’ve been here 20 years, 16 as chairman, and I feel we’ve done our stint on it.

“I said at the fans’ forum that it really needs someone, a consortium of local businessmen or an individual, to come in and take it to the next level which in two to three years is League 1.

“It’s a great opportunity for someone with a new stadium that is only four years old.

“Everything is in place.”

At a recent fans’ forum Mr McGuigan indicated that the club were closing in on a much-needed cash boost.

Tuesday’s move is therefore aimed at flushing out any more interest, according to the chairman.

He said: “There are discussions ongoing.

“We want to see if there are other interested parties though and this gives us more opportunities.

“The decision hasn’t been taken lightly, I’ve been thinking about it for some time.”

The timing means the club could have new owners on board in time for what would be a 10th season in the Football League with Jim Bentley’s side currently 18th in League 2.

Mr McGuigan said: “There’s time to get someone on board ready for next season.

“Rather than go out in August or September somebody can come in in the near future and it gives them time to look at things and put things in place.”

That doesn’t mean however that The Shrimps chief will be selling to the first serious bidder and insists the club will be left in good hands.

He said: “I’m not going to do something that 12 months down the line leaves the club in a bit of a mess.

“It’s got to be the right person taking over.”