TV pundit and football legend Steve Claridge is among a group of four who have launched a bid to salvage Salisbury City FC.

The former striker at Pompey and Leicester City has joined forces with supporters and businessmen David Phillips, Jeremy Harwood and Graeme Mundy to buy the club which owes creditors more than £640,000.

Guiding the newly formed consortium – which is gunning to see football played at the Ray Mac next season after a leagueless period – will be sports writer and former Weymouth chairman Ian Ridley.

Claridge, a pundit on Football League Show who was set to succeed Mikey Harris as manager in the summer and has scored 255 goals in his 29-year playing career, said: “I hope the administrator will see that our offer is a fair one and that we are the most credible and best-qualified people to get this club up and running again.

“There does need to be a swift resolution to this.

“It may seem like a long time to next season but any new club has to apply to the Football Association for allocation of a league in December and we are keen to make preparations.”

As well as boasting a long playing career, the 48-year-old has three managerial spells on his CV from his time at Pompey, non-league Weymouth and Millwall.

The quartet’s offer to buy the club is being reviewed by administrators Portland Business Support and Advice, with Mike Fortune and Carl Faulds at the forefront.

One of the consortium members Phillips, an active sponsor who was on the previous consortium with Mundy, Harwood, Mark Winter and Jackie Goddard that broke up, has been supporting the Whites for the past seven years.

The retired 64-year-old from Hale says all they can do is wait until a verdict is reached.

“We have made a fair and reasonable offer to the administrator, Mike Fortune,” Phillips said.

“Now we are just waiting for his reply so that we can all progress things.

“We believe we are the right people to take the club on.

“We have a blend of local people and outside experience and we have the city and its footballing interests firmly and foremost at heart.”

Fellow board member Harwood entered the Whites into administration in September through his company LED Synergy.

He said: “We have a relationship with the trustees of the Ray Mac and have the finance and expertise in the group to make a go of it and give supporters what is needed – a good, competitive team back on the field and a club that can live within its means.

“I would welcome the opportunity to be involved in making the club secure and stable for many years to come.”

In addition, Salisbury hero Nick Holmes has volunteered his services to act as an ambassador for the club.

The Journal understand there is another interested party wanting to buy the club.

FACTFILE