French second-tier side Troyes are set for a takeover by American investor Gary Allen.
Troyes president and majority shareholder Daniel Masoni revealed on Monday that he would soon hand control of the club to Allen, 45, the owner of National Premier Soccer League club Spartans FC in Portland.
"For several weeks, through an intermediary of Gary Allen, a project has materialised for the handover of 100 percent of the club," Masoni said at a news conference.
Masoni hopes the takeover can be completed by September and added that, once the deal is cleared, he will step down as president to be replaced by former MLS player Eric Descombes.
"The new buyer will have a lot more resources than I've had," Masoni said. "The future president has the ambition of getting the club into Ligue 1 and keeping it in the elite over the long-term."
Gary #Allen, chef d'entreprise américain de 45 ans, s'apprête à reprendre l'#Estac
✒ → https://t.co/V2XnApNcM1 pic.twitter.com/2qjV2Lx248- ESTAC Troyes (@estac_officiel) June 6, 2016
Troyes were recently relegated from the French top flight, finishing bottom of the table with just three wins and 18 points from their 38 matches.
They are set to become the second Ligue 2 club with an American interest after Le Havre, who are owned by American businessman Vincent Volpe and have former USA head coach Bob Bradley as their manager.