Thetownend.com

ANDREW Fitton believes today will finally mark the start of a new era at the County Ground - while 17-year-old starlet Ben Tozer looks set for a £1.1million move to Newcastle United.

Wiltshire businessman Fitton believes his takeover deal will be completed today after months of wrangling and protracted talks and his first task is expected to be allowing Tozer out of the exit door.

Fitton exclusively revealed to the Advertiser last night that all paperwork had been agreed and he was expecting the deal to be signed today, allowing his consortium full control of the club from tomorrow.
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Meanwhile young defender Tozer, who missed Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Brighton, will agree personal terms with the Premiership giants this morning as exclusively revealed on our website yesterday. The deal is expected to land Town around £250,000 immediately with further installments taking the deal to £1.1m.

Town caretaker boss Dave Byrne said of Tozer's imminent move: "It is a dream move for the lad and it was an offer the club could not really turn down."

Town's future teetered on the brink over the weekend as the takeover lurched precariously near collapse but, with all issues now sorted, Town fans are set for the Christmas present they have all asked for.

Andrew Fitton's no show at Saturday's League One clash prompted fears talks had broken down and, with him jetting off on a family holiday yesterday morning, it looked set to be a permanent divorce.

The Advertiser understands three late amendments to the deal, received by Fitton on Saturday morning, had put it in jeopardy but these have now been sorted, with lawyers approving the terms of the contract late last night.

The process was not helped by the club's legal team sending an important email to the wrong address on Saturday afternoon but, despite the delay, Fitton is now confident everyone can now look to the future.

He said: "Talks have concluded and all the paperwork has been agreed by both parties.

"We are hoping we will sign today and take control of the club from tomorrow. I will return from my holiday after the weekend.

"We just had to make sure that it protects everyone involved.

"That has been difficult but we are there.

Fitton himself left for a family holiday yesterday morning, but with power of attorney left at home, he was expecting he and his multi-million pound consortium will today be announded as Town's new owners.

On the Tozer deal Fitton insisted Town were not forced to sell but admitted some deals are just too good to refuse.

He said: "We would not let him go for a silly fee like £100,000 but if someone offered a million we would have to think about it.

"Would I be able to use that money to bring in better for the club at this moment? Maybe I would. We don't have to sell people but I am not saying we won't."

7:46am today

The process was not helped by the club's legal team sending an important email to the wrong address on Saturday afternoon but, despite the delay, Fitton is now confident everyone can now look to the future.

 :groan1:

would have been good for Fitton to be their on Saturday lets just hope we can welcome him and the new manager with a bumper crowd  on New Years day

Promising, but not yet signed and sealed.  I wonder if Diamandis will try to find another club to infect once he has been removed from ours.

How can the same shit excuse be used by the same club, twice.  :roll:

Oxford could probably do with a dynamic boardroom figure such as Mikey D.