Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has reportedly shown his interest in taking over struggling Premiership Rugby club Wasps as they try and cope with their debt.
The club have a deadline next week set by HM Revenue and Customs to refinance £35 million worth of bonds that were originally due last May, which Ashley had offered to pay before the deal collapsed.
Now the club have reportedly asked Ashley about buying the club and the Coventry Sports Building Arena according to the Daily Mail.
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A year on from selling Newcastle United, reports suggest that Ashley has not sent any formal offers but does remain interested as one of five potential buyers lined up to try and save the club.
Wasps also owe £2 million in taxes to HMRC on top of the £35 million in bonds, but it is reported that Wasps owner Derek Richardson is asking for £50 million for the club plus another £12 million cash injection for short-term running costs.
It's believed the main interest of Ashley is not the club itself but rather the CBS Arena, a stadium that has a fantastic hospitality sector which includes a Hilton hotel and Grosvenor Casino.
The CBS Arena is the home stadium of Coventry City who are tenants of the rugby club which poises more questions as to whether Ashley could use the stadium to get back into the footballing market by buying the Sky Blues as well.
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