ACCRINGTON Stanley chairman Eric Whalley has turned down a £1.5M buyout bid, he revealed this week.

But the club COULD change its famous name after what started as an April Fool’s joke attracted a surprising amount of support.

These were the dramatic developments at the Fraser Eagle Stadium as the club struggles to survive with the lowest gates in the Football League.

The takeover bid came from John Batchelor, a former York City owner who is currently in the news over his bizarre bid to take over ailing Mansfield Town and change its name to Harchester United after the fictional team in TV soccer soap Dream Team.

Mr Whalley said: "It isn’t the first time John Batchelor has been to see me as he has talked about investing money before. But this time he offered £1.5M for the club and I declined. The money is irrelevant. I did not want him to take over.

"He suggested taking the club to Leigh, where a big 10,000-seater stadium is being built, and calling it Lancashire United.

"It would turn Accrington into a franchise like MK Dons and I couldn’t have that.

"I would consider offers for the club but there is no way I would sell to anyone who wants to take the club out of Accrington or change its name so dramatically."

Colourful businessman Batchelor, an ex-rally driver who was born in Padiham and went to school in Blackburn, confirmed his interest in the club.

He said: "It has been well documented that I want a club. I did own York City and I feel I have unfinished business in football.

"There were negotiations with Accrington but we could not quite do a deal. I think Stanley’s name is the most unique in the game and it would be hard to change it."

However, a name change is something which is now being considered by the club itself.

On Tuesday, the Stanley website stated that the club would be called Lancashire Stanley United from next season in a bid to widen its appeal and boost dwindling crowds.

But various news organisations, including Sky TV, did not realise it was a spoof and put it out as a real story – which the club admits it could now be.

Chief executive Rob Heys said: "It was just an idea – an April Fool’s joke – which seems to have captured the imagination of some people.

"I did not think anyone would take it seriously but it has been picked up by a few people around the country and we have had telephone calls and emails saying it is an interesting idea and supporting it.

"Obviously, changing the name is not something we would do lightly but it is something we would now definitely think about if it widened the appeal of the club and brought in more revenue.

"We will listen to people and take it from there.

"Lancashire Stanley United was a name off the top of my head – increasing the geographical area would be something from which we could get more support, while still keeping the famous Stanley name in there.

"Accrington Stanley is a strong brand but it is not proving strong enough to get the support we need."

Crowds average only about 1,400 this season, easily the lowest in all four divisions.

Mr Whalley added: "The 1,200 who turn up every week deserve a medal but we want to take the club forward.

"The people of Accrington don’t seem to want to support us.

"We have people coming from Switzerland, Ireland and Norway to sponsor games but the businesses in Accrington don’t seem to want to help us out – and we need it.

"I said I didn’t want to go down the line of appealing for support again as we have done it all too often.

"That is why we now have to consider all options."

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