Preston North End: American consortium interested in £50m takeover | OneFootball

Preston North End are set to be the subject of a fresh takeover bid - two years after disgraced businessman Chris Kirchner made a move for the Lancashire ouftit.

According to Alan Nixon, a serious offer is being prepared by a mysterious group of Miami-based investors

The Lilywhites have been a mainstay in the Championship since 2015, cementing themselves as a mid-table side with play-off ambitions.

Ryan Lowe’s side will miss out on a top six spot this year, but have been in contention until the last few weeks.

Preston have not been in the top flight of English football since 1961, but are a founding member of the Football League.

Preston North End takeover update

Preston have been the subject of takeover approaches in the past, but it’s understood that this has the potential to become much more serious.

Two years ago, Chris Kirchner turned his attentions towards Deepdale after failing in his bid to buy administration-hit Derby County, but he claimed that the club raised their asking price after an initial offer was accepted, thus scuppering the deal.

Kirchner then went back in for the Rams but failed to complete a deal, and in January 2024 he was convicted of defrauding investors of $25 million.

Preston North End are currently owned by the Hemmings family.

Trevor Hemmings’ passing away in 2021 saw his family take over the overseeing of the club, maintaining its financial health.

However, the family are willing to listen to offers and would be open to a discussion on a potential sale.

Preston are an attractive proposition as the club owns its own stadium, as well as a highly-regarded training ground at Euxton, which was purchased from Wigan Athletic.

It’s believed the club is valued at £50 million, but the family is in no rush to cash in just yet, despite a willingness to discuss terms.

The potential investor is also reportedly eyeing two other clubs that are also available for the right price, but their interest in PNE appears more advanced.

North End director Peter Ridsdale discussed the Hemmings family’s commitment to the club as recently as January.

He claimed that the family would welcome fresh investment with open arms, but only on the condition that they felt they could take Preston forward.

"Their support is totally unwavering and it is outstanding,” said Ridsdale, via the BBC on Twitter, in January.

“We sit down each summer and they tell me how much cash they wish to put in.

“We balance that against FFP regulations and I know that cash will be there come hell or high water.

“I think they are under-appreciated and people should take one step back and have a look at 'What would happen if?'

"What they are also saying, very clearly, is if somebody turned up at the door and said 'here is how much cash we've got; this is what we'd like to do with the football club' - and the belief was they could sustain it and take it forward, they would be welcomed with open arms.

“Nobody is here in a sort of bunker mentality, saying 'leave us alone, we don't want to talk to you'."

Preston North End are an attractive proposition for a buyer

The Championship has seen a number of US investors come into the game in just the last 12 months or so, with both Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town seeing Tom Wagner and Kevin Nagle arrive.

West Brom have also changed hands to a US-based investor in the form of Shilen Patel, so there is clearly a market there willing to be tapped into.

The Hemmings family has kept Preston ticking over in the Championship, but it is a club with the potential for even greater things.

Despite their 60-year absence from the top flight, this is still a historic team in English football, which has great facilities and a loyal support.