New Wigan Athletic bidder 'wants deal this week'

Latics are coming to the end of their third month in administration, which kicked in on July 1 thanks to the actions of the previous owners.

While the French-American group fronted by Oostende CEO Gauthier Ganaye – the long-time frontrunners – last week pulled out, Krasner is optimistic a deal is still within touching distance.

“We had a new one come in this (Monday) morning, who wants to do it this week,” he told the Wigan Post.

“Somebody phoned me with instructions to do the deal. To be fair, he completed his NDA in four minutes flat – which is a record.

“I’ve been dealing with him all morning. He’s now got the contract and everything.

“Whether it happens is another matter."

Krasner says the new bidder has taken the total number in the 'inner ring' to five.

“There’s plenty of rumours going around at the moment," he acknowledged.

"But the reality is we have five (would-be) ‘buyers’.

“I’ve got an inner ring of bidders and an outer ring of bidders.

“At some stage, one of these bids should drop in.

“I am still optimistic, but we need to get that signed contract.”

There had been speculation over the weekend of a Dutch consortium making its move.

Krasner, though, played a straight bat to the rumours.

“A Dutch consortium? That’s news to me,” he said.

“I’m not aware of any Dutch link, but then again when I’m speaking to people I don’t ask where they come from.

"It’s possible there may be a Dutch link, but at the moment I’m not aware of one.”

Krasner also revealed he’s on the verge of doing a deal to offload Sharpey’s – which had been valued at £500,000 in the process.

“I’ve had a good offer on Sharpey’s,” he added. “And I’ve told certain people we’re going to accept it.

“If they don’t like it...either sign the contract or we’re going to sell it.

“You can’t just sit there doing nothing.”