Hellier ends month-long takeover bid

Businessman Martin Hellier‘s bid to buy Yeovil Town appears to be over just over a month after it began.

The owner of Hellier Group, which sponsors the Main Stand at Huish Park, announced he was out of the running having appeared to have spoken with the club about a potential takeover.

Having set a deadline of 6pm for a response from the club “due to lack of any information back in 25 days“, according to a post on his Twitter feed on Friday morning, Hellier posted at 4.48pm saying: “As if I’d wait to 6. Good luck. I’ll write a full statement next week.”

I can’t be bothered to be cryptic. That’s what time I’m going to pull out of negotiations due to lack of any information back in 25 days. Alright? Clear? Cheers

— Martin Hellier (@MartinHellier) December 2, 2022

as if I'd wait to 6.
Goodluck. I'll write a full statement next week.

— Martin Hellier (@MartinHellier) December 2, 2022

The post appears to bring to a month-long bid to buy the club which began on November 1, when the businessman posted: “Tomorrow I will make a full offer for the club and grounds. If I’m refused, I walk.” Two days later, he updated: “Tomorrow I will make a full offer for the club and grounds. If I’m refused, I walk.”

It appears that four weeks on, he has decided to walk. We await next week’s “full statement” to find out the reasons why.

Prior to stating he would make “a full offer for the club and grounds“, recognising the club’s stadium and surrounding land was sold to South Somerset District Council earlier this year, Hellier had spoken to BBC Somerset about his intentions – but had not quite gone as far as saying he was looking to buy the club.

The businessman’s company describes itself as having “a diverse investment portfolio” as well as an “unwavering focus on shrewd investment strategies, impeccable standards, and shared work ethic“, and reports to be valued at £50m with annual revenues of £15m.

The group owns the Yeovil Court Hotel, the Fitness Yeovil gym on the Lynx Trading Estate and a has been involved in developing a number of properties in to Air BnB lets in the town.

In an update to supporters in October, club chairman and owner Scott Priestnall said that he was hoping to add further directors to the board before the end of the year adding he would “take any approach seriously.”

He added: “We are continuing our discussions with potential investors to become part of the football club and the door is open for anyone to approach the club with interest in being involved in the ownership of the club.”