Brentford fans plan £1m takeover bid

Brentford supporters are trying to raise £1million to help them take overall control of the club from former chairman Ron Noades.

Fans' group Bees United will launch the appeal at tomorrow's home game with Hull and hope to raise the money by September. Noades, who quit two years ago, still acts as guarantor for the club's £4.5m overdaft.

Brian Burgess, chairman of Bees United, said: "We have set ourselves the target of raising £1m over the next few months to strengthen our negotiating position."

Having already qualified for the League One play-offs, manager Martin Allen will rest many of his first-choice players for the clash with Peter Taylor's promoted side.

That will mean League debuts for teenage defenders Karleigh Osborne and Jerome Sobers and midfielder Darius Charles. The starting line-up will also include goalkeeper George Bankole and reserve strikers Ryan Peters and Matt Harrold.

Hull are expected to bring in reserve team players Russell Fry and Scott Wiseman.