Harris confirms £5m Shrewsbury bid as other buyers emerge

Mike Harris has been at the helm of former Welsh village side Saints for 28 years

Mike Harris has made a £5m takeover bid for Shrewsbury Town as other interested buyers have entered talks with League One's bottom side.

BBC Radio Shropshire reports that "several" parties are now in discussions with Town, and that talks are said to be progressing "extremely well".

As owner of Cymru Premier champions The New Saints - a top-flight Welsh side based in the the Shropshire town of Oswestry just 18 miles away from Shrewsbury - Harris had previously been in negotiations with the third tier English side about potentially renting its Croud Meadow home to stage their three European Conference League home ties.

Earlier in the week, Harris revealed on social media that he had first attempted to buy Town from their 83-year-old owner Roland Wycherley in September.

Wycherley, however, went on to enter into exclusive dealings with an unnamed multi-millionaire American.

The recent collapse of that deal has prompted what BBC Radio Shropshire reports to be new discussions with "several parties" - although Harris is not believed to be a front runner.

No interested buyer apart from Harris, however, has put their name to their attempts at a takeover.

Details of Harris' interest was posted on the website of PlanetHippo, a web hosting company owned by the Welshman.

In an open letter addressed to Wycherley as well as Shrewsbury supporters, Harris has put forward a £5m bid to take 100% control of the club and promised a further £4m cash injection to help rebuild the side and improve the club's infrastructure.

The bid, which Harris says will be valid until 1 May, is based on the club being free of any debts.

"My offer is straightforward and unencumbered by conditions," Harris wrote.

"It is a sincere proposal aimed at safeguarding the future of the club, establishing a prudent business model, and ensuring fiscal responsibility, allowing the club to thrive both on and off the field."