ACCRINGTON Stanley’s second biggest shareholder, Ilyas Khan, has declared his interest in rivalling the offer of Dave O’Neill to buy the club.

It was revealed this week that chairman Eric Whalley had accepted an offer for his majority shareholding from Stanley’s general manager O’Neill, who also intends to bring in further investors.

But, although refusing to identify either person involved, Whalley says another interested party has contacted him since the news of the potential sale – yet to be completed – became public.

That is understood to be Accrington-born businessman Ilyas Khan, who has recently been based in Hong Kong and has made several donations to the club in recent years.

As well owning a stake in Stanley, he currently sponsors the Clayton End, which is named the Sophia Khan Terrace after his mother.

“I’ve had a message that someone else is interested,” said Whalley, who owns 56 per cent of the club’s shares but may retain some of them despite ending his involvement in the club.

“It hasn’t changed the situation much because the people that have been talking to me have been doing for five or six weeks and nothing has happened, so you wonder whether they are interested or whether they are just playing along.

"And I certainly would welcome more offers. It’s got to be best for the club.”