IAN Ridley said today he was 'saddened' after Weymouth Football Club directors turned down his offer of a high-profile rescue package for the ailing Dr Martens Premier Division club, writes Paul Baker and Matt Pitman.

The author, sports journalist and TV soccer pundit headed a three-man consortium that yesterday tried to gain control of the Terras.

The resort-born 47-year-old and his co-backers had pledged to plough more than £100,000 into the debt-ridden club and appoint former Arsenal and England star Tony Adams as soccer consultant at the Wessex Stadium.

In return, he wanted to replace Terry Bennett as chairman, director Peter Shaw to resign and there were also plans to oust manager Geoff Butler and appoint a successor before Saturday's home game against Tamworth. But at an emergency meeting held last night, the club's six-man board unanimously rejected the plans.

Ridley, who has co-penned books about Adams, Steve Claridge, Paul Merson and Eric Cantona, said: "I outlined exactly to the board that I was coming in on the ticket of a three-man consortium and I intended bringing a new manager to the club who I had already earmarked. On top of that Tony Adams would join as the club's soccer consultant and I would also become chairman.

"Sadly one of the members of the consortium was unacceptable to the board, even though he was bringing in a lot of money. Instead they offered me the position of vice-chairman, asked me to consider bringing a new manager to the club and they also wanted me to bring Tony Adams and asked me to invest mine and a second person's money.

"I said I was unwilling to do this and that it was an all or nothing package and that I was not prepared to associate Tony Adams, who has the highest reputation, with a failing concern. They obviously wanted me to deliver all the things I said I could in terms of finance and personnel but without giving me the authority to make changes at the club."

Ridley, who works as a Football correspondent on the Observer, continued: "My plan was that Terry Bennett would leave because although he has done a manful job in the circumstances, I didn't believe he was the best person to lead the club into a new era. Peter Shaw would also have been forced to leave as he had been associated with an unsuccessful era.

Ridley said: "The club has failed very badly under Terry Bennett, particularly in the last year. The board will, I suspect, tell you that the money I was willing to invest was not particularly significant. They were very conservative figures because I didn't want to make outrageous claims.

"I personally would have invested £50,000 over the next two to three years. I would have to bring two more people to the club who would have brought a minimum of £20,000 each within the next six months. We would have guaranteed £100,000 in the next two years at a conservative investment.

"I also believe this plan would have refocused interest from both fans and local businesses.

"Yes it was a small figure but it was only a base figure and a small price to pay to get the feel good factor back to this town.

"It's a local plan by a local man and I am very, very saddened because I think Weymouth will stagnate and it will not have the quality of people it needs to bring Conference football to a town that can support it. I think the fans deserve better and deserve to know."

Ridley, who is about to embark on Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier's biography, today apologised to fans after failing in his bid to lead the Terras into a 'new era."

"I am sorry because I wanted to deliver this to the people of the town. I believe businesses and fans would come back to us. If we cast aside the air of gloom we could bring the feel-good factor back to the football club and turn this club into what it used to be and more.

"I am sad because I think it was a real opportunity for change and progress. I am a fan and will remain so. The time is right for change and if it couldn't happen now I despair of it happening under this present regime. I don't really know where I go from here."