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Deal to buy Oldham

Laurence Bassini has agreed a takeover deal to buy Oldham Athletic. Apparently it's with £6.2m minus the debenture payment paid to the club’s former owners by Abdallah Lemsagam today. No administration. All subject to EFL approval (which may take some time).

Bassini is a controversial figure, indeed Kieran Maguire of the PriceofFootball has criticised him vigorously in terms which I cannot reproduce here.

In 2013, Bassini was banned from any involvement in football for three years because of financial misconduct during his spell as Watford owner, which had ended a year earlier.

He appeared in position to take over from Ken Anderson at Bolton, then a Championship club, towards the end of last season. However, the deal collapsed, with Wanderers claiming Bassini had failed to provide proof of funds by the club's deadline.

Wanderers later went into administration and were close to liquidation when the Football Ventures consortium completed their takeover in August - although that was not before Bassini had been awarded a court order to initially block the sale.

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