A millionaire tycoon is poised to buy debt-ridden Crawley Town Football Club and hand a 49 per cent share to supporters.

Former diamond dealer John Goodwin believes administrators Begbies Traynor will today fail to reach an agreement with creditors, owed half-a-million pounds by the club, and be forced to sell.

Begbies Traynor is asking creditors to accept an offer in which they would be paid paid 25 per cent of what they are owed over the next three years.

If at least half agree, the club can come out of administration and the controversial Majeed brothers will remain in charge of the Nationwide Conference outfit.

However, it is widely expected that the majority of creditors will reject the proposal at a meeting at Broadfield Stadium this morning.

The Inland Revenue, owed almost a quarter-of-a-million pounds, has already confirmed it will decline the offer, citing the Majeeds' poor record of paying tax bills.

A number of former staff owed money, including sacked managing director Steve Duly and manager Francis Vines, will also vote against the deal.

Mr Goodwin, 61, who has a track record of helping football clubs out of financial difficulties, told The Argus: "I aim to buy 100 per cent of the club but I am very happy for the trust to have an interest in the club.

"We have a verbal agreement that I will make 49 per cent of the shares available to them over the first five years."

Mr Goodwin, who recently sold his jewellery business, stepped down as chairman of Bishop's Stortford last month after seven years at the Conference South club, helping them clear debts of almost £300,000 and build a new stadium.

The supporters Devil's Trust has already put in a six-figure bid for the club, enough to buy a significant share from Mr Goodwin if he buys the club.

Spokesman Antony Weller said: "We are keen to work with John Goodwin. He seems to have the interests of the supporters and the football club at heart."