Five parties are in discussions with Charlton about a potential takeover.

A club statement following a ‘fans forum’ meeting between fan representatives, club staff and Lieven De Turck who is representing the club in takeover talks, revealed that the club are speaking to three other parties as well as the original two ‘known’ parties about a takeover.

Rumours of a takeover at the club currently owned by Belgian Roland Duchatelet have been ongoing for over a year whilst off-field issues have angered fans in to protests and demonstrations.

An Australians consortium who have long been linked with the Addicks remain the front runners in the takeover and Mr De Turck conceded that although “he is still positive he had hoped it would have been done by now.”

He points to the sums of money spent by the Australians in negotiations as evidence they are serious about the takeover. According to the official statement on the club’s website ‘everything is negotiated and there are no issues between them and the club.’

It was revealed that there are now sub groups working with the Australians that may be delaying the process, a process which Mr De Turck is confident will be pushed across the line.

Mr De Turck was less revealing about the second party that had shown interest in a takeover. ‘They have become ‘more active’ but wish to remain off the radar,’ he said.

The remaining three parties are in early stages of registering interest, but Mr De Turck made their involvement known at the fans forum which suggested the club are trying to keep their word on their promise on more transparency between themselves and their fans.

Mr De Turck also said:

“As part of any deal you need willingness, money and trust. A person visited The Valley a few weeks ago, signed an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) on a Tuesday and then something went on Twitter on the Wednesday meaning the trust had gone, he said nothing is being progressed with that party.”

The statement comes three weeks after former Nottingham Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi and his representatives were pictured being shown around The Valley.