Ipswich Town US takeover bid: The Athletic's Matt Slater lifts the lid on his investigation into Brett Johnson consortium
The journalist who broke the news of a takeover bid from a consortium involving USA businessman Brett Johnson has explained further details of his investigation.
The Athletic's Matt Slater, a former BBC reporter, appeared on the Talking Town podcast on the fan media Home Dressing Room YouTube channel last night to offer further insight into his article.
He was interviewed by Home Dressing Room network owner and Talking Town host Martin Lambert – who is taking over as SuffolkNews' new Ipswich Town columnist this week from Joey Sadler – as well as his regular contributor Matt Phillips.
Earlier in the day, Town's general manager of football operations, Lee O'Neill, told a press conference, following manager Paul Lambert leaving, "there isn’t an offer on the table" and that he was confident owner Marcus Evans would still be in charge come the end of the season.
“I am confident. Marcus is (as) driven (as) ever, I’ve spoken to him a few times over the last few days," he said.
But Slater disputed that, telling Talking Town's Extra-Time show: "Not only is there one offer on the table, there is more than one offer on the table!
"Lee O'Neill is either out of the loop and just doesn't know what is going on or he's fibbing, and I don't mind either to be honest as they are both plausible and credible in that Marcus Evans is selling this and he doesn't have to tell his staff if he doesn't want to.
"And everyone has signed NDAs (non disclosure agreements) in these things and Lee O'Neill isn't party to the conversation, or, he's fobbing off the local paper.
"Either is fine, but to say there is no offer on the table is, I am sorry, nonsense. I know of two, because how I find out about the Americans is by the other party.
"The other lot have been talking to Evans as well for months and didn't get it or changed their mind.
"They were the ones that filled me in with a lot of the gaps and I was able to then, once I had the name, reach out to American colleagues and contacts to go 'right, who are this lot', so that was it."
Ipswich, who are eighth in the Sky Bet League One table and two points adrifts of the play-off places, are at seventh-placed Accrington Stanley tonight where first-team coach Matt Gill, who has been put in caretaker charge, will be looking to make it three wins on the bounce.
Lambert's last two matches saw him break a miserable run against the top six this season, beating Hull City 1-0 away last Tuesday and Doncaster Rovers 2-1 at home on Saturday.
* Meanwhile, new SuffolkNews Blues columnist Martin Lambert is asking for fans to contribute to his first column.
Posting on Twitter (@HdrMartin) he wrote: "Finish my sentence for my new column: This (possible ) take over ( if confirmed ) is ___for #itfc because _________ "
He has said he will feature a selection and use them as a tool to discuss the points fans raise.
Alternatively, those not on Twitter can email him their response at homedressingroom89@gmail.com
Martin will be back tonight on the Home Dressing Room channel with a pre-match (6.30pm), half-time and full-time show with fan discussion as Town take on Accrington Stanley.
Read more: Ex-Town duo back Lambert's departure
