Courtenay to block Carlisle sale

John Courtenay revealed he will be going to the UK courts next week

Former Carlisle United owner John Courtenay has threatened legal action to block the sale of the club to four of the Cumbrians' directors.

The Dublin-based businessman claims a dispute over floodplain land adjacent to Brunton Park has yet to be resolved.

"I've been with my legal team and we will certainly be opposing the sale," he told BBC Radio Cumbria.

Courtenay says he has yet to be given the land he was promised as part of his sale of the club to Fred Story in 2004.

The transfer of 106 acres of floodplain land to Courtenay won approval from the club's board in May 2007, but the supporters body. The United Trust, launched legal action to block the transfer from going through.

My solicitors will be taking legal steps and we will be going to the court in the UK next week John Courtenay

"My solicitors will be taking legal steps and we will be going to the court in the UK next week," he said.

"There is no way in my opinion and in my legal advisors' opinion that the company can be sold while it has a disputed asset included in that sale."

In response, Story claimed he had done all he could to honour the agreement.

"John knows I have moved heaven and earth to try and transfer that land," he told BBC Radio Cumbria's 'Sportshour' programme.

"I have never contented that John shouldn't get the land. If John has got an issue as far as transferring the land to him then he should really speak to the Trust."

The United Trust's spokesman Norman Steel claimed they have been "trying to protect an asset of the company".

"That land has belonged to the club for a long time," he said.

It emerged last month that Courtenay was in talks with Story to buy the League One club for a second time.

However, four club directors - David Allen, John Nixon, Steven Pattison and Andrew Jenkins - sealed a deal to buy the club.

"I'd been negotiating with Fred for a number of weeks and we were very near resolution as far as I was concerned," said Courtenay. "I would have put money in and I would have tried to go for it. I'm very disappointed."