Haskell serious about takeover

Peterborough are waiting to discover the extent of the ankle injury Jack Payne sustained during the 2-2 draw with Huddersfield.

Payne, on loan from Gillingham, was forced off shortly before half-time at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday with suspected ankle ligament damage.

The 21-year-old midfielder is set for a scan but Posh boss Darren Ferguson already feels Payne may have made his last appearance for the club this season.

"It looks a bad one. We will organise a scan but we think he's damaged his ligaments and if that's the case he will struggle to play again this season," said Ferguson following the game in West Yorkshire.

Peterborough have endured some bad luck with loan players this season with Scott Wootton, Saido Berahino, Alex Pritchard and Davide Petrucci having all suffered long-term injuries during stays at London Road.

However, Tottenham midfielder Pritchard returned to the Posh squad at the weekend following two months out with an ankle problem.

The property tycoon was at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday to watch Coventry's 1-1 draw against Brentford in League One, attending with former vice-chairman Gary Hoffman and suspended life president Joe Elliott, who are at the forefront of the bid.

The party have already registered their strong interest with Paul Appleton, who is the joint-administrator for Coventry City Football Club Limited, and are keen to arrange a meeting as soon as possible.

Haskell told the Coventry Telegraph: "I'm deadly serious about doing this and want to get it done as soon as possible."

Three members of Coventry supporters' group the Sky Blue Trust also held a positive meeting with Haskell on Saturday before the home clash against the Bees.

In a statement, the trust said: "Mr Haskell gave a short outline of his plans to invest in Coventry City FC and the Ricoh Arena.

"He emphasised the importance of proper involvement of supporters in the ownership and running of the club and in transparent communications."

Coventry last Thursday launched an appeal against their 10-point deduction by the Football League for entering administration.

City, under current hedge fund owners Sisu, last month placed Coventry City Football Club Ltd into administration, insisting it was business as usual as Coventry City Football Club (Holdings), which they claim holds the crucial golden shares which provide membership to the Football League and FA, operates as normal.

But the Football League ruled that Coventry's golden shares do in fact still lie with Coventry City Football Club Ltd and applied the 10-point penalty in accordance with their rules and regulations.