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A Scots businessman is set to become the first man in football to pay to manage a club.

John Clarkson is on the brink of being installed as the manager of a Spanish third tier team after making them an extraordinary offer ... he'll give them £150,000 but will get it refunded if he wins them promotion.

Clarkson - a 60-year-old who owns a care home company in East Anglia - has been heavily involved in lower league football clubs in England and Spain as a coach, manager, director of football and owner.

And he's on the verge of completing an unusual coaching takeover of Deportivo Tudelano in the north of Spain after making an offer that their current president calls a 'sporting bet’.

Tudelano are currently midtable in Segunda Division B - the third division in Spain and have financial problems.

But Clarkson has offered to clear the club's debts, invest £150,000 over two seasons in the club and find new sponsors in return for him managing the team.

And he's so confident of winning promotion with them to Spain's second division, he has proposed an offer that he will get his money back if he can get them promoted over two years.

Tudelano president Jesus Miranda said: "The best way to describe his offer is that it is an economic sports bet.

"The Scottish businessman has big plans for this club. His goal is to get to the second league within two years.

"The fans might think this is just a hobby of extravagance for him, but he is a fully fledged coach with all his badges.

"He is paying money to do a sports project - he is not taking over the club.

"He came in and told us that he would get us sponsorship and sort out the club's debts. And in return, he coaches the team for free.

"He will invest £50,000 for the first season and £100,000 for the second season. He's told us that if he wins us promotion within that time, he will be refunded his money. If he does not, we keep it.

"It's a very unusual and exciting proposal."

Clarkson, has been involved with a variety of clubs in the lower echelons in England and Spain.

He's managed Tiverton Town, Crediton United, Launceston, Liskeard Athletic and Porthleven in England.

And he's been involved with Ontinyent, Crevillente, Benissa, Catarroja and Real Aviles in Spain.

However, Clarkson will first need to solve Tudelano's financial woes - they owe unpaid wages to players and staff and the Spanish tax authorities around £175,000.