HARTLEPOOL UNITED have issued a plea for potential investors to come together to form a consortium to help take over the finally-stricken club.

Pools’ chairwoman Pam Duxbury has taken the decision to reveal there has been “significant interest” in taking over the National League club but there remains no deal on the table.

Hartlepool have been up for sale since December but it is not believed there has been a potential buyer who has carried out full due diligence on the finances at Victoria Park.

Duxbury is battling to keep the club out of administration, which would incur an immediate ten-point penalty and increase the chances of relegation to National League North.

John Blackledge, the club’s owner, has stopped pouring his own cash into Hartlepool - like he was for a number of months – and now they are struggling to pay overdue bills, wages and running costs.

There are still a couple of parties who have signed Non-Disclosure Agreements who expressed an interest in buying the club. With nothing close, though, Duxbury and the board are urging interested parties to come forward again – or even join forces.

A club statement read: “The club wishes to assure all supporters, members of the local community and stakeholders that everything possible is being done to save the club from insolvency by ensuring we can engage with genuinely interested parties in equity ownership to find a long term solution for the club.

“Naturally, it is extremely disappointing that interest shown to date has not come to fruition. However, the club understands that there has been significant interest to date, and there have been further and new expressions of interest.

“What is clear is that if timescales were permitting there is little doubt that an iconic club such as Hartlepool United FC would have little difficulty attracting a new equity owner, who is looking to invest in and engage in owning a football club for the long term.

“There have been several expressions of interest of some people willing to join together as part of a consortium, but may not have known others to join in with.

“With this in mind therefore we would urge anyone that is thinking along these lines that they should contact the solicitor with their appetite for equity investment and proof of funds for that level.

“Pending further announcements the club will not be making any further specific comments at this time and all potential equity investor enquiries can be directed to Geoff Cunningham at Walker Morris – Geoff.cunningham@walkermorris.co.uk who is representing the current owner, Sage Investments.”

Hartlepool’s hopes of receiving a significant cash windfall on deadline day to help their plight have failed to materialise.

Celtic were unable to reach agreement over the signing of goalkeeper Trevor Carson after having two offers of £200,000 and £375,000 knocked back.

Motherwell were demanding £750,000 because they knew that 40 per cent of any sale was due to go back to Hartlepool as a sell-on clause. It was felt £500,000 – meaning £200,000 to Pools – might have got the deal done.

Hartlepool have allowed Nicky Deverdics to join Wrexham for an undisclosed fee but knocked back Stevenage’s attempts to land Michael Woods.

The key midfielder had requested to return to the Football League but it was felt he was too important to the club’s cause.

Young winger Jack Blackford was released by mutual consent. He is not planning to go to the United States where he is going to play for Real Monarchs.