Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson has rejected a takeover attempt by a Chinese-American billionaire consortium after they made a formal offer following talks in the North-East.
Chinese businessman Chien Lee - the owner of French club Nice - American former banker Paul Conway and British business adviser Alexander Jarvis were guests of the club at two Premier League matches this season and had dinner with Gibson and his consultant Peter Kenyon at Rockliffe Hall on October 16.
But when an offer of around £50million was subsequently made for a 50 per cent stake in the club, Gibson dismissed it outright.