A PROPOSED deal for the sale of Great Leighs has fallen through, with the future of the track still in doubt.
Racing has not taken place at the former Essex showground site since January, but administrators Deloitte had hoped to conclude a deal with Terry Chambers, owner of the local polo club, by the end of this week.
However, the exclusivity period with Chambers has now ended, and Deloitte are once more left searching for a possible buyer for the track.
A statement from the firm read: "The joint administrators have confirmed today that the proposed sale of the Great Leighs racecourse to Terry Chambers will not be concluded following Mr Chambers' withdrawal from the process.
"As the exclusivity agreement entered into with Mr Chambers has now expired, the joint administrators have approached a number of other interested parties in an attempt to secure a third-party sale and negotiations in this regard are continuing.
"The joint administrators are, in parallel, also continuing in their discussions with The Royal Bank of Scotland as the main creditors for the Essex County Showground Limited."
Any prospective buyer is facing a race against time to be eligible to bid for fixtures in the 2010 calendar after the British Horseracing Authority confirmed a licence must be in place by May 28 in order to take part in the process
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