By STEVE BOTT

IAN WOOD and Eric Whalley have both been ruled out as speculation mounts over the identities of the parties interested in the purchase of Radcliffe Borough Football Club.

The matter has now been put in the hands of estate agents Roger Hannah, who are having the buildings and lease valued.

Chairman Bernard Manning Junior was unable to come up with a figure after meeting the club's accountants last week, but it is hoped once the valuer has completed his work in a week to ten days time the picture will become clearer.

Meanwhile, the local Radcliffe businessman interested in purchasing the club is still in the frame.

Manning said: "He has been in touch again this week and he still seems reasonably keen.

"He is not a well-known figure and it is certainly not Ian Wood.

"There are two other people with him and once they have more information and a roundabout price they will look at whether they are interested in making an offer or not."

The same applies to the non-league manager linked with the club, but while fans have been throwing names into the ring, Manning categorically stated that former Radcliffe and Oldham Athletic player Wood and Accrington Stanley chairman Eric Whalley are NOT among the interested parties.

"I am getting as frustrated as anyone," said Manning. "Until we can name our price no-one is going to show any firm interest, but at least there is someone there.

"It's not like selling a house. You don't sell a football club every day." Meanwhile, Marine boss Rowley Howard, the longest serving manager in the game, has a striker poser for Saturday's FA Cup third qualifying round tie against the Boro.

Last season's top scorer John Morgan, who hit 25 goals, is currently playing cricket in Australia -- "and who can blame him with the weather we're having," said Howard.

His replacement, Gerrard Courtney, is cup-tied as he is only on loan from Accrington Stanley, so 65-year-old Roly, who is in his 30th year at Marine, has been looking to fill the gap up front with a couple of promising youth team players.

Marine are currently lying 16th in the UniBond Premier Division table and knocked out higher-placed rivals Colwyn Bay 4-3 in the last round.

Their Rossett Park ground once held a crowd of 4,000 for a friendly against Nigeria back in 1949, but Howard, who is still in business as a window cleaner, with no thoughts of retiring from either job, reckons Saturday's gate will be nearer the 4-500 mark as Marine have been averaging between 350-400 so far this season.

Boro boss Kevin Glendon has a fully-fit squad to choose from after goalkeeper Danny Hurst got the all-clear following his stomach pains scare and striker Neil Hardy has shaken off a calf strain.

Midfielder Scot Wilson will be unavailable as he is holidaying in Mexico.

A further meeting will be held in the Boro Social Club on Wednesday October 25 when chairman Bernard Manning Junior, manager Kevin Glendon and lottery manager John Stringer will be on hand to explain the latest developments in the proposed sale of the club.