Gateshead rescue deal remains in doubt as MP seeks regulator intervention

Gateshead’s proposed takeover remains in doubt as the National League club confronts financial pressure and a battle at the bottom of the table. BBC Sport reported on Thursday that Mark Ferguson, the MP for Gateshead Central and Whickham, had spoken to the Independent Football Regulator on Wednesday, warning that urgent action was needed to resolve uncertainty over the club’s future.

Watch the highlights:

Prospective buyer Flacks Group set out the obstacle in an open letter published on Gateshead’s website on 29 October. It said it had signed a purchase agreement, subject to regulatory approval, but discovered an earlier agreement involving Shoreline Sports Limited during its checks. According to Flacks, Shoreline had started court proceedings seeking confirmation that its own purchase agreement was void, alongside financial claims against the shareholders.

Flacks said it needed written confirmation that Shoreline would relinquish any ownership claim before completing the takeover. It said this would not affect Shoreline’s financial claims against shareholders. Without that assurance, Flacks said it could not proceed. Its letter warned that withdrawal could follow, rather than announcing that the purchase had already been abandoned.

The prospective owners also said they had funded September wages for players and staff and were ready to provide further money for creditors and the next wage payments. In a separate statement published by the club on 30 October, Gateshead’s players backed the proposed takeover after meeting Flacks representatives. They expressed optimism about the stability new ownership could provide and called on the previous shareholders and Shoreline to resolve their dispute.

The financial difficulties have coincided with poor results. BBC Sport reported that Ben Clark, who took interim charge following Lee Cattermole’s dismissal on 4 October, earned his first win in seven matches against Stoke City Under-21s in the National League Cup on Tuesday. Gateshead had nevertheless lost all three league fixtures under Clark and were eliminated from the FA Cup by Stafford Rangers.

The club’s published league table lists Gateshead last, with four points from 15 matches. Its fixture list shows Barrow visiting the International Stadium on 14 November. The takeover has not been confirmed, despite the players’ public support for the prospective owners.