Manchester United and Chelsea owners aim for late winner in Lords Hundred auction
Share:
Part-owners of Chelsea and Manchester United football clubs are among a quartet of finalists vying to buy a big stake in London Spirit, the most prestigious franchise in English cricket’s Hundred competition. Sky News has learnt that a vehicle controlled by Todd Boehly, a shareholder in Chelsea, and members of the Manchester United-owning Glazer family have been shortlisted to acquire 49% of the Lords-based team from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The other two shortlisted bidders are a consortium of technology company owners and financiers which includes the bosses of Google and Microsoft; and RPSG Group, the owner of the Indian Premier League team Lucknow Super Giants. Money latest: TV chef points finger over hospitality troubles.
People close to the process said on Thursday that the four bidders would be asked to submit sealed bids for the ECB stake next week, with the highest bidder expected to be chosen by the ECB. The London Spirit franchise is expected to be valued at about £140m, meaning the proceeds to be received and distributed by the ECB would be approximately £70m, the insiders added.
The identities of the shortlisted parties means that India's Ambani family, owner of the Mumbai Indians IPL team, is not in the running to buy the Lords-based outfit. Sainsbury's to cut over 3,000 jobs as budget tax hikes loom. Primark sales woes underline the challenges facing retail.
