RECENT talk of Tony Campbell becoming the next owner of Weymouth FC is a bit premature, according to the man himself.

The ex-Plymouth Argyle chief operating officer spoke to Echosport yesterday when he admitted any potential takeover is a long way off.

Campbell and Terras’ director Nigel Biddlecombe have both been holding talks with George Rolls over the past couple of weeks as the latter continues to be linked with a possible move to Kettering Town.

Commenting on the ongoing situation from his perspective, Campbell said: “This is all still very early days. It seems like it has been going on a while but the due diligence process will be quite lengthy and quite complex with everything going on at Weymouth.

“It is certainly a bit premature to say I am going to be the new owner but what I will say is that I am interested and I am holding discussions with George Rolls, which are progressing.”

Campbell refused to go into details about his future plans for the club but did laugh off suggestions he is a property developer being backed by a caravan park owner, who is interested in setting up camp at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

He added: “I am off to Japan on Sunday. I have a business over there and it has nothing to do with property development.

“I will not be back until next Friday and I will not be doing any property developing while I am there either.

“I am also not being backed by a caravan park owner although I do have a friend who used to own a caravan park. However, he is not backing me and does not own the park anymore “I can fully understand and appreciate the fans’ concerns at present because to a lot of people their football club means everything to them and in some cases can even be their life.

“That is why I think it is important for me not to comment much more until there is something else to say, other than that Wey-mouth FC is a fantastic opportunity which is of interest to me.”

When asked whether he is aware of the legal challenge to the Rolls family’s disputed majority shareholding and ongoing concerns surrounding the club’s failure to keep up to date with its annual accounts, Camp-bell said: “I am aware of all those issues and that is why I need to look at the due diligence to address those.

“They have certainly not been addressed yet and that is why any involvement from me will not be a matter of weeks – it will be longer.

“There is certainly nothing imminent and nothing will be happening where I am concerned in the next couple of days or the next couple of weeks until those issues are fully looked at.”

* Echosport understands George Rolls helped Kettering Town negotiate a successful deal with the club’s playing squad yesterday over their outstanding wages.

*The takeover talks have taken a new twist with Terras’ director Nigel Biddlecombe claiming George Rolls wants £20,000 for the club.

On a message posted on the fans’ independent forum the club’s historian made a plea to supporters to help raise the amount needed to purchase the club.

He said: “I’ve been told by George that he wants £20,000 for the club.

“However, my offer was £16,500. In all honestly I cannot raise the extra £3,500.

“As an idea I thought I might put the idea to you people, is there a few of you out there who are willing to put the balance together?

“If anyone is willing to help raise the additional monies to bring the club back I need to know as soon as possible.”

Biddlecombe, who is set to meet Rolls today, has set 11am this morning as a deadline for fans to come foward with the money.