Thursday 17 November 2016 21:06, UK
Chesterfield owner Dave Allen wants to sell the club and will not be returning to the board, according to Sky sources.
The majority shareholder has a 60 per cent stake and his investments in the club are understood to total around £10m.
But sources have told Sky Sports News HQ that Allen could be open to discussing a sale at around half the value of his investment.
Allen shocked the struggling Sky Bet League One club by resigning as chairman and director on Monday after two fellow shareholders refused his request to indefinitely write-off interest on their loans.
The Spireites' board have held emergency talks every day this week as concerns have grown over their financial future, and they confirmed on Thursday that Allen had been officially removed as a director from the Companies House register.
Allen's investments since 2009 have been vital to the running of the club and Sky sources understand he has been making up the club's cash shortfall month by month.
But he told fellow shareholders he "could not carry on", sparking a boardroom crisis at the Proact Stadium that is yet to be resolved.
The board will hold another meeting on Friday that they hope will see a deal struck between shareholders, but Sky Sports News HQ understands the club remain keen for outside investment.
Chesterfield issued a statement on Thursday that read: "The directors are aware of media speculation relating to the club's current position and are continuing to work around the clock to resolve the situation.
"There is a meeting of the directors scheduled for this afternoon to continue with these discussions.
"Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Dave Allen has officially been removed from the Companies House register as a director of CFC 2001 Limited, but remains the majority shareholder with a 60% stakeholder in the company."
Allen said on Monday: "At the outset, I never intended to become the chairman. I was just an investor who wanted to see the club progress and get into the Championship. It was then my plan to sell on the investment."
