Yates happy after positive talks held with prospective new owners

Face in the crowd - Crawley Town v Plymouth pictures by Jack Beard SUS-160221-233207002

Ziya Eren was in the bumper crowd at the Checkatrade.com Stadium on Saturday and spent the first half standing with fans in the Bruce Winfield Stand before moving to the directors’ box at half-time.

He would have been impressed by a hard-working display ahead of the expected takeover next week.

Yates seemed frustrated last month that he had not met the potential new owners, but has now sat down and spoken to the Kayseri Erciyesspor president.

He said: “I have spoken to him. We have had a general chat, I had a meeting with one of the guys and it was nice and positive.

“We have had communication. I met him on Tuesday and have had a couple of conversations with him since then.

“I have listened to what they have had to say and will see where that goes over the next week, two weeks, month, six months, whatever and see where that goes.”

Yates was also quick to praise current benefactor Paul Hayward, who has bankrolled the club for more than five years.

The Hong Kong based investor, from Northampton, only revealed himself to the public as the mystery backer last September - one month before sales talks began.

Yates said: “We just need a little bit of clarity on it and hopefully that will come this week. That is nothing against what is here already or has been here.

“The owner - the one who has got the reins at the moment - has done a magnificent job for this football club.

“He has single-handedly given the money that has got this club from the Conference into League One, yes it may have come down and his interest may have waned a little.

“But I do not think it has been on his part from want of trying. He has tried to get the Crawley people out and bums on seats.

“Since I have been here, it’s not a criticism, but I think his interest has dropped, but he has still put money in and supported the team, it’s just one of those things.”

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