FORMER Notts County vice-chairman John Mounteney today expressed his deep concern at the situation at Meadow Lane, after the club was put up for sale by its owners Munto Finance.

But he is confident Peter Trembling will secure the future of the club, after meeting with the Magpies' executive chairman yesterday.

Mr Trembling and director of football, Sven-Goran Eriksson, are trying to mount a management buyout at Meadow Lane.

And the Evening Post understands they hope to complete that in a week.

Mr Mounteney, who was vice-chairman of Notts for 24 years, gifted Munto his 10 per cent shareholding in the club in July in order for them to gain control at Meadow Lane.

The Supporters' Trust also voted in favour of giving them the majority stake in the club after the takeover was endorsed by former chairman John Armstrong-Holmes and vice-chairman Roy Parker, who met Munto representatives in Bahrain.

The decision to sell the club after only five months came as a complete shock to Mr Mounteney and to other representatives of the club's supporters.

Mr Mounteney said: "Naturally I am concerned at the situation. When John Armstrong-Holmes and Roy Parker came back from the Middle East the future of the club looked assured for many years.

"Subsequent meetings with representatives of Munto only reinforced that view.

"I know Peter Trembling has had problems with the owners over recent times but there was nothing to suggest the original proposals for the future of the club were in jeopardy.

"I have met with Peter and discussed the position. He is working hard to find a solution. He certainly remains committed to the club and I think we will see a way forward in the near future.

"I would be disappointed if Munto were looking to make a profit on the sale as we gifted to them our shares in the club."

There has been speculation Mr Eriksson could walk out on the club.

"Certainly if Sven were to depart it would be a huge blow," added Mr Mounteney.

"He has worked tirelessly representing the club since his arrival and Notts County's profile has been raised to unprecedented levels across the world.

"Sometime ago a survey found that Notts County supporters were the most stressed in the country. Is it any wonder?"

A spokesman for Supporters Direct said they wrote to the Supporters' Trust board about their reservations about the takeover before the trust held a ballot of its members.

Kevin Rye said: "The decision was made by the board and membership and they voted in favour of the takeover.

"It was something we didn't agree with and we wrote to the trust board to tell them that.

"The sale was being made on the basis of a bank guarantee, that was the sole reason for the sale.

"They were in a position of ownership and influence and they failed to retain any interest or influence on the board."

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