BRENTFORD supporters trust Bees United have rejected an initial £7 million package from former Queens Park Rangers chairman Richard Thompson to help them buy the club.

The Bees chairman John McGlashan revealed: "We held a board meeting on Saturday and decided to turn down Mr Thompson's offer. We have told him we might accept it if he improves the terms and have outlined what we would want.

"But on Monday we met with a local businessman who is also interested in making an offer. We put a proposal to him and he is considering it. Brentford have also been negotiating to sell their Griffin Park ground and I reckon we can work with current Brentford chairman Ron Noades to save the club supporters should recognise that he is on our side."

Noades has scoffed at Thompson's offer, calling it "a nonsense." He says: "The fans would be mad to accept an offer like this, whereby Thompson would receive £3 million if the ground was sold for £14 million. It is not in the interests or the club.

"As the majority shareholder, I have given Bees United an option to buy the club by September 30, and that means there is nothing I can do to stop them if they complete a deal with Thompson by Monday. I would agree to extend the option to enable them to take over the club, but not to do this deal it wouldn't leave enough to buy a new ground."

Bees United, who accept they won't meet Monday's deadline, approached Thompson and received from him a written offer to help them take over Brentford. He would loan the club a maximum of £7 million, secured on the freehold of the ground, until May 31, 2006 and this would include providing running costs estimated at £500,000 a year for the next three years, at the end of which the club would have to find a new ground.

In return Griffin Park would be sold to Thompson, when planning consent is given, at a percentage of the market value at that time. Brentford would also have to repay the £7 million loan.

Noades, who has been sent a copy of Thompson's letter by Bees United, declared: "If the ground was worth £14 million Thompson would make £3 million on it. At least he is honourable enough to reveal the financial gain he expects, but it is a form of asset-stripping and the club cannot afford to hand over £3 million."

Bees United have accepted Noades' offer to attend negotiations and the 52-year-old McGlashan, who is also a Brentford director, commented: "We welcome Ron's help and would need to obtain his agreement to extend our option to buy. As things stand we have asked Thompson to reduce the amount of profit he would make from the sale of the ground."

A meeting attended by Noades and McGlashan with representatives from the council, residents association and supporters groups agreed on Monday that Brentford's current planning application for housing at Griffin Park was too detailed. As a result McGlashan says a new application will be made which should hopefully be given outline approval at the end of October.

Both Noades and McGlashan say Feltham Arenas might be a good site for a new ground and do not believe speculation that Hounslow Council will sell it to a leisure company if Brentford want it. Noades said: "I would expect the council to give Brentford first option. We could rebuild Feltham Arenas and move there in two years."

Bees United also favour the Lionel Road site near Kew Bridge owned by the Strategic Rail Authority. STEVE BEEKS SOCCER SCHOOL will be undertaking the 10th English tour to the Finnish island province of land next June, in defence of the Alandia Cup which they won, ahead of 63 Scandinavian sides, this summer. Players are invited to open trials at Matthew Arnold School, Kingston Road, Staines, on Monday September 30th from 6pm to 8pm. Players must be born in 1992 or later. Call 01932 702235 for further details.

FELTHAM Under 12s slammed Hillingdon Saints 'B' 16-0, with every outfield player scoring. Scorers were Emeny 4, Ralls 2, Tate 2, Barrett 2, Kazi, Suliman, Walmsley, Dargue (penalty), Regan and Stone.

Feltham are looking for Under 11 and Under 12 players. Call Stuart on 07958 903758.

* Extensive coverage is given in the Brentford, Chiswick and Isleworth Times and Hounslow, Feltham and Hanworth Times Series.

September 25, 2002 17:00