Souness makes public his £20 million bid
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Graeme Souness insists he has made a bid to buy Wolverhampton Wanderers, despite the Championship club having earlier denied they have been in negotiations with the former Rangers, Liverpool and Newcastle United manager.
Souness was reported to be part of a consortium interested in taking over control of the Molineux club from Sir Jack Hayward, the owner, who has said he will hand over the reins to an investor prepared to pump £20 million into the club.
A statement from Jez Moxey, Wanderers' chief executive, said: “It is not true that we are in negotiations with Graeme Souness or anyone connected to him.”
But Souness countered: “I have offered to buy the Wolves for £20million. I don’t know why Jez Moxey is saying these things. I have had several telephone conversations with Sir Jack Hayward and I have spoken as well with Jez Moxey.
“And last week I made an offer, subject to an examination of the club’s books and accounts, of £20million, which is the figure Sir Jack had publicly declared he was looking for.”
Hayward has made it clear the influx of funds would have to be used for “team strengthening”. He said in November: “I have always said that if someone comes in with some money we would be prepared to sell. Originally we asked for £40 million but maybe now it is time to change that valuation.
“Maybe now we would sell if someone came in with £20 million that they were prepared to invest in the club. If they could promise that investment for team strengthening, we would be prepared to listen.”
Souness attended the Barnsley game at Molineux on New Year’s Day as a guest of the club, although Moxey claimed that was after a chance meeting on a flight to Florida.
The Scot said today: “I was told 'no' by Jez Moxey but the offer still stands. It is Sir Jack’s football club and if he chooses not to sell it at this time, that’s his prerogative. He can do what he wants. I have a partner and I see the club having vast potential and I will put more money into it if I got the opportunity.
“This is not a Johnny Foreigner coming along to make a quick buck. But Jez has told me no, the offer wasn’t acceptable. That’s the end of the matter, but it is there on the table.”
Moxey added in a statement: “There are no negotiations with Graeme Souness or anyone connected to Graeme Souness. We will only say something on this subject when there is something substantive to report.”
The Souness link follows previous reports that Wolves were in talks with Milan Mandaric, the former Portsmouth owner, which were also strongly denied by the club. Mandaric is currently involved in a takeover at Leicester City.
Souness confirms £20m Wolves bid
Graeme Souness
Souness was a guest at Wolves on New Year's Day
Graeme Souness has claimed he did make a £20m bid to take control of Wolves, despite the club denying the story.
Chief executive Jez Moxey had earlier dismissed reports that the former Liverpool boss had shown an interest in buying Wolves from Sir Jack Hayward.
But Souness told the Express & Star newspaper: "I don't know why Jez Moxey is saying these things.
"Last week I made an offer, subject to an examination of the club's books and accounts, of £20m."
Souness has been out of football since being sacked by Newcastle in February 2006.
He has been linked with a return to management at Crystal Palace but he has instead turned his attentions to a £20m Molineux buy-out - the figure that Hayward recently put on the Championship outfit.
It is not true that we are in negotiations with Graeme Souness or anyone connected to him
Souness, who has also managed Rangers and Blackburn, added: "I have had several telephone conversations with Sir Jack Hayward and I have spoken as well with Jez Moxey.
"I was told 'no' by Jez Moxey but the offer still stands. It is Sir Jack's football club and if he chooses not to sell it at this time, that's his prerogative. He can do what he wants.
"I have a partner and I see the club having vast potential and I would put more money into it - if I got the opportunity.
"This is not a Johnny Foreigner coming along to make a quick buck. But Jez has told me the offer wasn't acceptable. That's the end of the matter but it is there on the table."
When questioned about the reports in the Daily Mirror, Moxey said: "It is not true that we are in negotiations with Graeme Souness or anyone connected to him.
"However, we do not want to conduct our business through the media and, as is company policy, will only comment on important matters when we have something substantive to report."
Souness attended Wolves' game against Barnsley at Molineux on New Year's Day as a guest of the club after meeting Moxey on a flight back from Florida.
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