A RIVAL consortium says it has the cash in place to buy Saints should the Pinnacle bid dramatically fail.
Dorset businessman Marc Jackson,who is fronting the bid – also revealed he had lined up a current international manager to lead the team.
Mr Jackson said administrators Begbies Traynor had been in contact with the consortium in the past week to seek assurances that the bid still stood.
He told the Daily Echo last night: “Yes, they have recently contacted us.
“I assume that is because they are protecting their backsides should Pinnacle fail.
“They have no choice and I hope that they are also looking to protect the club.”
Pinnacle’s 21-day period of exclusivity expired yesterday at 5pm with no deal having been completed.
The hitch was due to the Football League saying they wanted Pinnacle to agree NOT to appeal against the 10-point deduction they imposed back in April.
Lawyers had told the Pinnacle group that it was worth appealing against the deduction.
With Pinnacle not agreeing, it is understood the Football League have failed to issue the relevant licence.
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