New York-based businessman rules out Chesterfield FC takeover bid

Englishman Mark Campbell, whose background is in real estate, is believed to have been at Saturday’s FA Trophy defeat and had previously been given a tour of the ground.

Mr Campbell has told the Derbyshire Times that he is not buying the club and his attendance at the match was as far as his interest goes.

However, Chesterfield FC company secretary, Ashley Carson, said he was “mystified” by Mr Campbell’s comments and claimed he had lodged a formal bid for the club.

Campbell has this year tried to complete takeover deals for League One Sunderland and Scottish League One side Falkirk.

“As with any such deal, negotiations have led to changes being proposed from both sides,” a Falkirk club statement said.

“We have found Mark and his team open in all our dealings and wish to thank him for his willingness to engage with us.”

While Campbell told the Sunderland Echo in July that a deal to buy The Black Cats ended as the price to buy the club “dramatically changed.”

“We had the club valued and our price that we agreed to buy the club at the very start, when we first made the bid, dramatically changed as time went on,” he said.