As hopes grow that a deal securing the long-term future of Darlington Football Club could soon be agreed, Joe Willis finds out more about the club’s potential new owner.

SHEFFIELD-born entrepreneur Paul Wildes has interests in businessess ranging from property development to hairdressing.

The 35-year-old was a finance director for the Caudwell Group, which owned brands such as Phones4U, before launching his own company, Mansion Group, in 2007, The company specialised in developing luxury student accommodation and was soon a success.

He sold a majority stake in the Mansion Group for about £1.9m in 2009, selling the remaining 20 per cent the following year.

The businessman then launched holding company Wildes Group, registered to what appears to be a small office above a Pizza Express restaurant in Knutsford, Cheshire.

The group has a number of subsidiaries, including the Wildes Hotel Group.

According to the mission statement on the company website, the company has a “vision to develop a £400m portfolio of assets over the next three years which requires a rigorous and thorough investment methodology to be adhered to, with integrity and prudence the guiding principles”.

The same site says that Mr Wildes has “an enviable track record in business turnarounds and building fast-growing and sustainable companies”.

The company is involved in the development of two new hotels – a Holiday Inn Express at Hoylake, on Merseyside, and a Hilton hotel at Exeter Airport.

It is also refurbishing a Holiday Inn Express in Crewe.

It is understood the company works in partnership with Guernsey-registered Blackmore Branded Commercial Opportunities Fund, which was set up to invest in branded commercial property and has licensing agreements with global brands such as Hilton, Holiday Inn, Intercontinental and the Crowne Plaza.

The businessman also runs venture capital holding company Wildes Securities, which operates three beauty salons in Sheffield under the Loaf name, as well as an upmarket salon in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, and another in Sheffield, as part of the House of W brand.

He also owns financial recruitment agency Wildes Group Recruitment and W Academy and Education, which provides apprenticeships in subjects such as hairdressing, IT and business administration in Sheffield and the North- West.