FOOTBALL chiefs have admitted there is nothing they can do to force Wirral multi-millionaire Peter Johnson to sell his majority controlling interest in Premiership club Everton - for fear of Tranmere Rovers closing down.

Johnson, who made his fortune by selling Christmas hampers, has a controlling interest in both Everton and Tranmere. Football League rules stipulate that no individual can own more than one club.

However, those rules have been thrown out of the window for the fear of the Wirral Nationwide League Division One club closing down. The Wirral tycoon is under no pressure to sell his interest in Everton.

Rovers are currently under the helm of Chairman/Chief Executive Lorraine Rogers, Johnson's girlfriend.

Johnson is owed £7 million by Tranmere and Football League spokesman Peter Rowe said: "It is a very delicate situation because the future of Tranmere could be perceived to lie in the hands of another club.

"I can understand the frustration of some supporters, but the last thing we want to do is jack boot our way in and end up losing one or both of the clubs.

"And that is a real possibility if the wrong decision is taken."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.