Steve Parkin believes he is on the verge of striking a deal to come on board with City.

The millionaire businessman held further talks yesterday with joint chairmen Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn.

And Parkin, chief executive of Brighouse-based Clipper Group, reckons an agreement could be tied up within a matter of days.

The T&A understands that the deal, should it come off, would see Parkin installed as a third investor alongside the current owners, rather than taking over himself as was originally suggested.

A decision is expected to be made shortly, with all parties reluctant to allow negotiations to drag on.

Parkin said: “I feel there’s a deal somewhere close to being done. It’s just a matter of hammering out the de-tails.

“I would be quite hopeful that we can get there in the next few days.”

* Read the full story in today’s Telegraph & Argus