Frampton bid for Wigan Athletic 'ready to go if admins allow'

The Spanish bidders were knocked back again by the EFL last Friday.

But they have tweaked their bid accordingly, and removed any association with Jose Miguel Garrido Cristo - who is understood to have raised a red flag in the Owners and Directors Test - his brother Antonio Garrido Papadopaulo and accountant Victoria Condratova.

While the Spanish - backed by Leganes owner Felipe Moreno - remain confident, the administrators have also spoken of a 'hope of bringing this matter to a satisfactory conclusion'.

But the Supporters Club and Lisa Nandy have both placed on record their hope that 'alternative bidders' may now be approached.

And Frampton says his group are just waiting for the nod from Begbies Traynor to come back to the table - as soon as the exclusivity period afforded the Spanish is lifted.

"If people are asking whether we have tabled a bid...yes we did," the Wigan-born businessman said.

"I've seen a lot of discussions around a deposit, and why we haven't put one down.

"From my recollection, in the SPA - the Share Purchase Agreement - there was no requirement for a deposit.

"That doesn't mean we won't put one down, but from the documents received there was no requirement.

"If the bid price becomes a two-stage payment, so be it.

"The purchasing price, in terms of what we're prepared to invest in the club and the community, is minute.

"So if they're asking us to put down £300,000 - which I think was the amount stipulated with the Spanish - or £500,000, or £800,000...it doesn't matter.

"It's all part of the lump sum that would be needed to buy the club."

Frampton's is not the only rival bid in town, with another group - including Darren Royle and former Manchester City defender Ray Ranson - also waiting in the wings.

But Frampton says it's up to the admins to make the first move to open up the process to others.

"In terms of the Ranson bid, or our bid, the first step that needs to happen is for the admins to approach us," he said.

"They've told us they'd come back to us if the Spanish bid fails - and we've heard nothing.

"We're still here, but it really needs to come from Begbies, the administrators, if the Spanish bid fails.

"But it looks as though they've got round the hard point by getting rid of Garrido."

Frampton insists the bloody noses received so far have done nothing to deter him trying to help out his hometown club.

"We are businessmen, and we have faced similar obstacles to this in other situations we've been in," he said.

"If we don't end up being successful, and we don't get to take over the club, we're not going to throw the toys out of the pram and start screaming.

"I have been asked why we're still here, and I'll reply quite simply - I'm a Wiganer.

"I've worked hard for a number of years to get the company I work with to get them interested enough to want to invest in my home town.

"This of course would bring lots of pride to me, that's what it's all about.

"We'd obviously look for a return on that investment, we're not going to make stupid investments

"But we see Wigan Athletic, and the local community, as a solid investment.

"Why are we hanging around? After the news this morning, I don't think we'll have to wait around much longer!"

He also revealed initial steps have already been made to identify potential new signings - from all over the world - should they need to move fast in next month's transfer window.

"As a company, we work in Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Spain, as well as the Far East," he added.

"We've already begun to look into the availability of certain players, through our ambassadors who are in those countries.

"Once we were to sign the Share Purchase Arrangement, we would be ready to act immediately on the recruitment of those players.

"We obviously can't do anything at the moment, because we're just working on a promise at the moment.

"As to how this thing's going to go, the end of January is already not very far off.

"If the Spanish bid was to be rejected, and we were to become involved, we would be looking to close the deal before Christmas.

"That would enable us to get in and start work over Christmas, and get the players we're looking at secured as quickly as possible."

Read unlimited Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors stories for less than 70p a week by subscribing to our sports package here