BASINGSTOKE Town have dismissed reports of the club being put up for sale on eBay as “a misguided publicity stunt.”

While it is true that Town chairman Rafi Razzak will be stepping down at the end of this season, the eBay listing was not sanctioned by the north Hampshire club and has since been taken down.

The man behind the stunt was supporter Simon Hood, a former club director, who said: “We’re keen to find a buyer who shares our affection for Basingstoke Town FC.

“The club has a rich history of success, based in a town of over 175,000, the prospective supporter base is huge.”

“Perhaps our new owner is an existing supporter. If they’re not already, I have no doubt they will be once they’ve met everyone involved in the club.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for somebody to become a legend here in Basingstoke.”

Before the listing was removed, the highest bid stood at over £65,000 and an enthusiastic Hood said: “We have already received a couple of private messages from around the world for potential bidders.”

The problem with Hood’s plan, however, is that the mid-table Southern Premier club is not his to sell.

An official Basingstoke Town FC statement clarified: “There is no truth in the rumour that Basingstoke Town Football Club is up for sale on eBay.

"This was a misguided publicity stunt by a former director and fan who does not own the club and is not in a position to sell it. The listing has been removed.

"It is true that the long-standing chairman of Basingstoke Town Football Club, Rafi Razzak, has announced that he will step down at the end of this season in May 2017.

“The appointment of a new chairman will be part of a strategic review, called ‘Plan B’, to determine the long-term future of the club, which will also include a review of where it will play football in the future.

“The club management are working hard behind the scenes looking at a number of options for the future of the club.

“We applaud the stunt as it has drawn attention to our 'Plan B', and anyone with a constructive input to 'Plan B' should contact the club through the usual channels.”