Wetin dey happen for Deepdale dis Easter Monday? Na serious gist o. US-Saudi businessman and investor, Mr Amr Zedan, just show face for Preston North End stadium ahead of dem match against Queens Park Rangers. Fans wey dey around snap am as e dey waka around di ground with him people. Dis one come just three days after Zedan post photo for Instagram of am as e dey watch PNE 2-2 draw with Leicester City.
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For di Instagram story, Zedan caption am say, ‘let’s go @pnefcofficial’. E even share di club half time post, wey dem dey lead 2-1 for dat time. Dis investor interest for di club first become public matter since January. Di new non-executive chairman for di club, Ian Penrose, don confirm say both sides don dey talk after Sky News first report di contact.
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Penrose talk say, “Mr Zedan is one of a number of successful individuals or organisations that have made enquiries about the club.” But e warn say, “Specific comments on any approach are inappropriate at this stage.” E explain say dis na complex process wey get plenty financial, legal and regulatory hurdles wey dem must cross well well. Di Board dey get advice for all dis process from Rothschild & Co.
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“Whilst such a transaction can take months to conclude, and there is no certainty that a successful outcome will be achieved, it is the Board’s intention to conclude these negotiations at the earliest opportunity,” Penrose add. “It is of utmost importance that any future owner of Preston North End is the right fit for the football club, in order to maximise the club’s potential and the ambitions of our fans, stakeholders and owners.”
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Back for October 2025, Craig Hemmings – whose family don own PNE since 2010 – set two-year target to sell di club via club strategy update. Zedan, wey be serial venture capital investor, get background for sports business and horse racing. For January, Zedan talk say discussions don start since early December before dem stall small. Na im be one of several people wey express interest, publicly, to buy Chelsea FC back for March 2022.
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As di match against QPR dey go on, former Ipswich and England captain Mick Mills talk for BBC Radio Suffolk about anoda game. E say before di two goals wey dem score, dem play dull, no aggressive, no quick. Second half, dem sit back, allow Birmingham side wey no too strong dominate di game territorially. “Basically we’ve got away with it,” Mills yarn. “You couldn’t give this amount of possession to a Norwich or a Middlesbrough, I think the manager tried to pick a team with the Norwich game in mind and I don’t think it came off.”
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But for Deepdale, all eye dey on Zedan movement. Di man presence dey spark plenty talk among fans and observers. Dem dey wonder if dis na sign say di takeover talk dey progress or na just normal visit. Di club board dey careful, but dem dey push to conclude negotiation as soon as possible. Di key thing na to find owner wey go fit di club well well, wey go help achieve di ambition of fans and stakeholders.
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