BASINGSTOKE TOWN have denied that they put the club up for sale on eBay after the Southern Premier club became the talk of social media.
Basingstoke's long-serving chairman Rafi Razzak has announced he will step down at the end of the season and end his financial backing of the club.
The Hampshire outfit have said they are assessing their options and will consider whether it would be worth them finding an existing ground they could upgrade, groundsharing or even merging with another club as their Camrose home is “no longer suitable”.
However, an eBay listing appeared on Tuesday appearing to be selling the club and within four hours the total had reached £65,900.
The club trended on Twitter as the news spread across the football world but unfortunately for any budding owners, the listing wasn't official.
Former Basingstoke director and supporter Simon Hood had started the auction, which began at 99p, and he received messages from as far afield as Japan and New Zealand before the listing was removed.
A club statement read: “There is no truth in the rumour that Basingstoke Town Football Club is up for sale on eBay.
“This was a misguided publicity stunt by a former director and fan who does not own the club and is not in a position to sell it. The listing has been removed.
“It is true that the long standing chairman of Basingstoke Town Football Club (BTFC), Rafi Razzak has announced that he will step down at the end of this season in May 2017.
“The appointment of a new chairman will be part of a strategic review, called ‘Plan B', to determine the long-term future of the club, which will also include a review of where it will play football in the future.
“The club management are working hard behind the scenes looking at a number of options for the future of the club.
“We applaud the stunt as it has drawn attention to our Plan B, and anyone with a constructive input to Plan B should contact the club through the usual channels.”
