Notts County owner Ray Trew and Nottinghamshire businessman Alan Hardy have reportedly signed a non-disclosure agreement allowing them to stage meaningful discussions over a potential takeover at Meadow Lane by the latter.

The two men are said to be clashing over their respective valuations of the club, despite ongoing talks for two months, with Trew understood to be wanting between £8m and £10m for Notts.

By allegedly signing the agreement, it would suggest that Hardy, who owns The Nottinghamshire Golf, Hotel & Country Club and is chief executive of Nottingham-based group Paragon, is a serious bidder.

Under the terms of the agreement, neither individual can speak publicly about any talks between them, but should they eventually agree on a price, Trew can open the club's books to Hardy for him to carry out confidential due diligence with a view to completing a takeover.

Magpies chief executive Julian Winter, meanwhile, said he had not met or spoken to Notts fan Hardy – it is understood the bidder has dealt directly with Trew from the start and will continue to do so going forward.

Winter also suggested the process may be lengthy. He told local media: "I have been involved in these things and I have never seen a quick one. Don't get me wrong they do happen from time to time, but they are not the norm."

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Out-of-favour Notts County midfielder Stanley Aborah has not been told to find another club, according to manager Jamie Fullarton.

The 28-year-old  has not played since the Scot took charge at Meadow Lane last month, despite being a regular starter under former manager Ricardo Moniz.

Aborah was rewarded with a new contract until the summer of 2017 on Christmas Day thanks to a series of performances that made him a fan favourite, but has not kicked a ball since their 4-2 home defeat against Oxford United on 2 January.

When Fullarton was asked if he had told Aborah he can leave the club, the boss replied: "No, very much it's not the case. I've been consistent with my reply to it; he is part of the team, the club, and the squad.

"We have a big squad, as you know, and he's available for selection. And what we feel is best to go and compete and win the game against Plymouth, I'll make that decision."

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Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has decided to focus on the positives from his side’s game at Accrington Stanley as they travel to Plymouth Argyle at the weekend.

The Magpies were beaten 3-2 at the Crown Ground in midweek, though their performance was arguably better than the one that saw them lose at home to Leyton Orient last weekend.

Despite upheaval off the pitch, with Ray Trew stepping down as chairman and putting the club up for sale, the Scot will be attempting to ensure his squad's focus remains firmly on the football.

"I think you have got to have a combination of results with performance and we've got to strive to have both," said Fullarton.

"As you can tell I'm never happy not winning the game, but there is a token of positivity to come from the performance and particularly against a team that is in the top three in the league.

“Obviously [Accrington] are in the league position that they are because of what they've done over the course of the season.

"For us to go there and give ourselves an uphill task, being 2-0 down at half-time, I thought our reaction was a positive one and something that we'll take from the game.

"Obviously when we're 3-2 down and got momentum, and playing with that belief, we're looking to get something from a game, which we felt on the second half we should have."

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Nottinghamshire-based businessman and Notts County fan Alan Hardy has reportedly been identified as a serious bidder to take over the Meadow Lane club after Ray Trew stepped down as chairman and put the club up for sale.

Hardy, the owner of The Nottinghamshire Golf, Hotel & Country Club and chief executive of Nottingham-based group Paragon, is believed to have been in ongoing discussions with the club for several weeks about a takeover at the club.

Trew cited the 'foul, mindless abuse' he and his family have been subjected to from fans in recent weeks as a reason for his decision, described as being made "in light of recent events".

He paid Peter Trembling £1 for the Magpies six years ago, taking on more than £1.5mi in debts in the process, and watched his side win the League Two title at the end of his first season in charge.

In the letter, which was posted on Notts' official website, Trew wrote: "It is with very mixed emotions that I announce the end of my tenure as chairman of Notts County Football Club, as I put the club up for sale, having re-evaluated my position in light of recent events.

"I must start by stressing that this is not me backing away from a challenge. I do not do that and, indeed, if I'd have wanted to I would have done so some time ago because it has been a difficult journey at times.

"However, when my family are subjected to kind of foul, mindless abuse that they have been in recent days - both in person and courtesy of the oh so brave keyboard warriors - regardless of whether this is just the minority ruining it for the larger supporter base, I have to make changes.

"That said, whilst I have a somewhat bad taste in my mouth from the vitriol spouted by some, I do not walk away lingering on any negativity but instead will take with me the many happy memories that I have accrued from my time at Meadow Lane."

Notts are 16th in League Two having been relegated last season, and appointed Jamie Fullarton as manager in January following the sacking of Ricardo Moniz.

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Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has publicly slammed his side after they almost threw away a three-goal lead against Notts County on Tuesday.

Stanley were in complete control by the 51-minute mark, but County substitute Ronan Murray pounced on a defensive lapse after 72 minutes to pull a goal back before Adam Campbell, another replacement, slid the ball home with nine minutes left to make it a tense finish.

"I am absolutely furious," said Coleman. "We let each other sink to below our standards. 

"For the first 20 minutes were played some irresistible football and we cut through them like butter. Then we stopped playing and they smelt it and on another day they could have got a draw and maybe even a win. 

"We weren't clinical enough and we have dodged a bullet. I have let the players know that that is not good enough. I am fuming." 

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Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has praised all of his players for the character they showed in pegging Accrington Stanley back to within a goal in Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat at the Crown Ground.

Three down by the 51-minute mark, the Magpies struck twice through substitutes Ronan Murray and Adam Campbell as they mounted real hopes of getting a point in Lancashire.

Fullarton said: "You can't just isolate the two players that came on. I think there was another nine on there that helped with the contribution in the second half, for us to go and score the two goals and get ourselves in touching distance of getting back in the game.

"How we started the second half gave us an insight that we were capable of coming back into the game and it was encouraging that we keep believing and pushing forward.

"I think on reflection if you are going to give two goals away when you're away from home against one of the top teams in the league, then it's a very tough task for us.

“But I think the lads showed their character to get themselves into a position where with a little bit of pressure and forcing the issue in the last five minutes we could have maybe taken a draw."

Notts travel to Plymouth Argyle in their next game.

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Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has empathised with fans who booed him and his team in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against Leyton Orient at Meadow Lane.

The Scot has presided over three wins in his first six games, but both home games, against the O’s and AFC Wimbledon, saw the Magpies walk back into the tunnel with no points.

A minority of supporters chanted against Fullarton late on against Orient, and Notts were booed off come full time.

Fullarton said: "I see the frustration and disappointment. We share it. Have no doubt about that. We're going to strive to do the best we can to change it.

"I'd combine disappointment with frustration. Myself and the players, when we come to play at home, we're looking to do better.

"I'd never question their attitude but in certain aspects we've got to do better to eradicate their frustration.

"You've got to be honest and say how you see it. We're disappointed. I feel the frustration the fans are entitled to feel.

"We've shown we're resilient away from home and gain points. We've got to show that here in front of our fans. 

"I stress that I understand the frustration. The only way we can eliminate it or ease it is by winning games at home. That's what we'll aim to do.

"We've had a good week. The performance at York was the most emphatic we've had away from home, but it wasn't matched by the result.

"The players took everything on board this week. The preparation was right for the game. We'll regroup and we'll re-assess where we could do better and look to kick on on Tuesday. 

“I was expecting more today. The players expected more. We want to correlate the effort with quality to get a performance."

Notts travel to Accrington Stanley on Tuesday.

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Notts County striker Jon Stead is eager for his side to show the home fans how much progress they have made under new manager Jamie Fullarton by putting in a great display against Leyton Orient at Meadow Lane on Saturday.

All of the Magpies' three wins under Fullarton have come on the road, at Crawley Town, Luton Town and Hartlepool United, while their only other home game ended in a lacklustre 2-0 defeat against AFC Wimbledon.

Stead, the club’s top scorer with 11 goals, said: "We want to show what we've been doing. It's been getting us some success on our travels, but we need to show that here.

"It's a good opportunity to do that against a side that are slightly above us in the table, and one we feel we can claw back a bit and gain some ground on and catch. We've got to be looking to do that if we want to get anywhere near where we want to be at the end of the season."

Talking about the Hartlepool game in midweek, which finished 3-2, he added: "I think the way the game swung when it got to 2-2, I think the majority of people probably wrote us off as we were going to draw the game or lose it.

"I'm not going to sit here and say it couldn't have gone either way because it could have done. They had a great chance to make it 3-2, but we hung on and we got there and we got the result, which was massive and it keeps us with the opportunity of getting to where we want to be."

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Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has called on his charges to produce a more positive result in his second home game, against Leyton Orient, than they managed in the first.

The Magpies boss has been at the helm for five matches since taking over from Ricardo Moniz, but only one has been at Meadow Lane - a 2-0 defeat to play-off chasing AFC Wimbledon. 

He said: “We've only had one home game and it was against a team that's pushing for the play-offs. We didn't do as well as what we had done, but that was the second week. 

“I think come Saturday, with the confidence and the belief and the momentum that we're gaining, and the progression each week and each day in training, we're looking for a different outcome.

“I'm never happy. When you're always striving and you're relentless in the pursuit to be successful, as I've stated from day one, you're always wanting more and to be better. But ultimately, each day and each week, we're looking for progression. 

“I think, in general, we can see overall, not just in performances, we've got to match that with results, which I thought we did on Tuesday night.”

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Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has claimed that his players are growing in confidence with each passing game.

Since replacing Ricardo Moniz at the helm, the Scot has overseen a return of nine points from a possible 15 in League Two.

On Tuesday night, the Magpies survived a fightback from Hartlepool United to secure a 3-2 win. They had been two goals up at Victoria Park at half time, before being pegged back by their hosts, only for Jon Stead to bag his second of the night in the 80th minute and clinch the victory.

Fullarton said: "I think we deserved the three points. On reflection of the overall game, I think the three points were well merited. 

"But the way the game panned out, it taught me something else about the group, individually and collectively, in terms of their resilience that they're growing together with the confidence and the belief in what we're doing.

"It tells you how we're evolving as a group, and believing in what we're doing. I thought some of our play, our passages of play and chances created throughout the game, was a step up and a progression from what we've done in the last month."

"I think with the conditions as they were, they would play a part, in my eyes, on how they would resort in the second half when they were 2-0 down.

"I thought it would be a real test for us. The two chances in particular that could have put it beyond doubt in the first half, and gone in at half-time with three or four, changes the dynamics of the game.

"The impetus they gained when they did score a goal, it would have been lessened (if the Magpies had been 3-0 up) because I thought their crowd and the atmosphere was a testing cauldron. I think that then reflects really well on our group; how we responded."

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Notts County manager Jamie Fullarton has described the first 20 minutes of his side’s game at York City as the best under his tenure, and left it late to make changes because he was confident his starting XI could force an equaliser.

The Magpies fell two goals behind at Bootham Crescent in the first half as Michael Coulson and Bradley Fewster struck for the hosts, and although Lubo Satka’s second-half own goal kept the visitors in the game, 2-1 was the final scoreline.

Speaking ahead of his side's clash against Hartlepool, Fullarton said: "It's disappointing to lose any game, but on reflection of the performance, it's even more so. The first 20 minutes was probably the most accomplished we've produced since I've been here.

“It's vital we don't give teams something to hold on to, especially ones struggling to stay in the division. We did and they grew in confidence. At no point did I feel we were out of the game, I always felt we could get something.

"We waited to make changes. If you see the reaction of the other bench, they would agree. They made changes earlier."

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Former Wycombe Wanderers winger Jason Banton has signed with Notts County until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old had a successful trial with the Magpies this week and his signing was confirmed ahead of kickoff at York City on Saturday.

Banton played under Fullarton in Crystal Palace's Under-21s earlier in his career, and says he thrived under the Scot for the Eagles.

"We worked really well together, so when he gave me the opportunity to come here on trial I took it and happily it's led to a contract," he told the Post. 

"I did really well under him at Palace. I enjoyed playing for him because everything was really structured and disciplined.

"He knows what he wants from the players and I know exactly what I need to do under him. If we can rekindle that form I had when I was under him then it would be really good. 

“Notts are a good, strong team. I've played with Izale McLeod at MK Dons and we linked up really well there. 

“Everyone knows Jon Stead's played in the Prem and done really well, so it's very exciting to have two front players that are going to stick the ball in the back of the net given the right service. 

"It's not out of the question, the play-offs. Mathematically we can do it, so we've got to take each game as it comes. 

"It was frustrating training at Wycombe every day and not playing, just watching the games on the weekend, so I'm raring to go. I want to take my opportunity.

"I'm very pleased to be here. It's a big club in the league, one that should be higher." 

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Notts County currently feel like they can beat anyone in League Two, according to defender Elliott Hewitt.

The Magpies have won two out of two away from Meadow Lane under new manager Jamie Fullarton, beating Crawley Town 1-0 and Luton Town 2-0, and will head to bottom side York City on Saturday.

"We fancy ourselves against anyone at the minute," said Hewitt, who could be switched to right-back against the Minstermen if loanee Gary MacKenzie is preferred in central defence.

"York are struggling, but you know what it's like, any team can beat anyone in this league.

"I think it will be tough. They will try to get at us, so we've got to make a quick start, try to get the first goal and kick on from there.

"[Fullarton] has made us more solid as a team, The two away performances were probably the best ones we've had in a long while, especially against Luton I thought we did really well.

"Everything is a lot more organised. You know your job; he gets his message across clearly to you.

"Under the last gaffer, he was a lot more attacking. We played lovely stuff at times, but were just left a bit wide open at the back.

"We just need to get the right balance, which I think we're starting to get now.

"Obviously being a defender it's good for us because it's clear what he wants us to do, and that's first and foremost defending.

"And I think we've done that really well, in the last two away performances in particular."

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Jamie Fullarton will be hoping his Notts squad can achieve their third successive away with since he took charge. The Magpies' confidence has increased on the road since the departure of Ricardo Moniz with fans in attendance and in spirit will hope this continues for as long as possible.

York City will be hoping their home form prevails against County, with them last claiming victory against Stevenage back on the turn of last month.

They have won one of their last six games, having drawn two and losing three - The Minstermen are 16 points below Notts who are currently bottom of the League Two table.

Run-down of their last six games.

Monday 28^th December – Mansfield Town 1 York City 1
Saturday 2^nd January – Yeovil Town 1 York City 0
Saturday 16^th January – York City 0 Newport County 1
Saturday 23^rd January – Carlisle United 1 York City 1
Saturday 30^th January – York City 2 Stevenage 1
Saturday 6^th February – Northampton Town 2 York City 0

The Players – Fact Sheet

Highest Goal Scorers; Vadaine Oliver 8, Michael Coulson 5, James Berrett 4 and Luke Summerfield 4.

Persistent Foulers; Vadaine Oliver 7 yellow cards and 1 red card, Dave Winfield 7 yellow cards, James Berrett 7 yellow cards and Marvin McCoy 4 yellow cards.

The Key Players.

Scott Flinders on his day can be a very decent keeper, especially if protected by his defence.

If I singled out three players who seem to be key to the Minstermen's team - they would be Michael Coulson, Vadaine Olver and Russell Penn.

Whilst Kenny McEvoy deserves an honourable mention.

Style of Play, Strengths, and Weaknesses.

From all the highlights I have seen, York City haven't really shown much direction with their play. They seem to struggle to get hold of the ball, which seems to create scrappy play - whilst at times they can pass it around nicely, as you can imagine this isn't the case often and their fans do seem to encourage better play at home.

They play as a unit, keeping passes as simple as possible.

When they do play well, their attacks are certainly from the heart and with the ability to get forward they can appear to be lethal - however, prone to making poor decisions on goal, often leaves their breaks unrewarded.

Weaknesses within their defences highlights that they do not look up to much against good sides, with those that play attacking minded football. They tend to back of their opposition, leaving space and their marking seems to be missing - as does their positioning.

Ball from corners and blistering shots seems to make Scott Flinders and his defence struggle.

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On this day 22 years ago, Notts County fans were in dreamland as they vanquished local rivals Nottingham Forest 2-1 in a Division One match at Meadow Lane, a match remembered to this day as “Sir Charlie Palmer Day”.

A crowd of 18,655 were treated to a topsy-turvy clash where Gary McSwegan gave the Magpies a shock lead on the hour after previously being denied by the woodwork.

Dave Phillips then equalised for the Reds with five minutes left to play, but around 60 seconds later, a Mark Draper free kick curled perfectly into the path of Charlie Palmer, who powered home an emphatic header to clinch all three points.

Incredibly, it was his first goal for two seasons and his first league strike since 1990, making it extra sweet for him. He ran almost the length of pitch in celebration.

“I lost it at the point," recalled Palmer. "I just went wild with emotion."

Here is the goal in all its glory:

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Notts County will play host to American football side Tampa Bay Rowdies, a team featuring former United States prodigy Freddy Adu, next month.

The North American Soccer League club, from Florida, are touring England as part of their pre-season preparations and will play both a Magpies XI and a Nottingham Forest XI.

They arrive in England on March 6 and will immediately travel to Nottingham to face Forest on Wednesday March 9 at the Nigel Doughty Academy, where they will also spend five days training.

Two days later, on Friday, March 11, they take on Notts – it is yet to be decided whether that will be at Meadow Lane or at the Reds' training ground. 

They will then head to St George's Park, in Burton-upon-Trent, from March 12-17 and will take on a Leicester City XI on March 16. 

The Rowdies squad includes Adu, who has 17 caps for the USMNT, Leyton Orient defender Tamika Mkandawire and ex-QPR goalkeeper Matt Pickens.

Notts County boss Jamie Fullarton says he understands the pain Will Hayhurst is going through as he too has suffered knee ligament injuries.

The former Preston North End winger, 21, is undergoing rehabilitation for his own cruciate problem, and is not expected to be fit until the summer.

He has also not kicked a ball competitively for Notts since April 2015 and is out of contract at Meadow Lane at the end of the season.

Fullarton said: "I've spoken to Will and having suffered injuries myself, cruciate on both knees in particular, I can offer advice and guidance on the way forward for him from a football point of view.

"We have a fantastic setup here in terms of sports science and medicine which only reinforces the message they are saying.

"It's like when I tell my son to do something he doesn't listen or believe, but when he listens to the same thing from a teacher he listens to them. 

"So when you have a football-minded coach or manager who can relate to a player and his situation, it reinforces what he is being told. Will has to be patient, but he is working hard on a daily basis.

"It's tough mentally as opposed to recovering physically, but he is coping very well with that because John (Wilson) and Becci (Knight) are giving him coping strategies and helping him when it's tough. He is making good progress.

"We are patient, he's not. But you have to hold players back. We've got to make sure when he is back, he stays back. We don't want any other issues because we have a duty of care. 

"To be fair he is listening to those with his best interests at heart. I've been through it and I can sympathise with him. 

I did both of my cruciates. I understand the process and the anxiety that goes with it. All I am doing is reinforcing what the medical department is telling him."

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Notts County are not expected to offer Miles Addison a deal at Meadow Lane after he reportedly failed to show up for his trial.

According to local media, Addison was supposed to report to training last week alongside fellow trialist Jason Banton.

The former Derby County man, however, did not show up, and the reasons for the absence remain unclear.

Addison, who was recently let go by Peterborough United, has also been on trial at Southend United and Hamilton, but neither club has offered him a permanent deal.

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Notts County legend Les Bradd has described current club manager Jamie Fullarton as sharing ‘similarities’ with Jimmy Sirrel.

Bradd, Notts' all-time leading scorer with 136 goals, played for the Magpies for 11 years – nine under Sirrel, arguably the club’s finest ever manager.

He told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I have met Jamie twice and have had good conversations – and, dare I say it, there is a little similarity with Jimmy.

"They are both Scots and they both use this term about being effective. Jimmy taught all the players he had in the group what was required.

"You weren't on the pitch to play football; you were going out there to do a job and in each role you had a job to do. I think Jamie is preaching that from what I hear from one or two of the players.

"They know exactly what they have to do out there. They have a structure to play and, in that structure, they have a freedom to play. But we must start from not conceding goals."

Sirrel managed Notts from 1969-75, 1977-1982 and 1985-87 and guided the team to three promotions.

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Legendary Notts County management duo Jimmy Sirrel and Jack Wheeler have been awarded with the honour of having a Nottingham tram named after them.

The pair led the Magpies through the most successful periods in the club’s history, winning promotion to the First Division in 1981.

They join the likes of Colin Slater, Brian Clough, Torvill & Dean, and Carl Froch in having their names on a Nottingham tram.

“He would have been very honoured,” said Jimmy’s daughter Audrey at the Wilkinson Street tram depot unveiling.

David, his son, added: “He would have enjoyed the moment, and knowing him as we did, he would have been in charge of this whole meeting!

“He was the boss, when he walked in the room. And if you didn’t know who was the boss, you soon did.”

The naming follows an appeal to tram operator NET by former County player and manager Charlie McParland.

He said: “Jimmy was a legend. A legend off the pitch, a legend as a manager, he had a character in how he dealt with players. He was a one-off there will never be another Jimmy Sirrel.

Jack died in 2009 aged 89, a year after Jimmy’s death at the age of 86.

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Notts County trialist Jason Banton has received a glowing report from Nottingham Post reporter Leigh Curtis.

The 23-year-old winger, formerly of Crystal Palace, Plymouth Argyle and Wycombe Wanderers, left Adams Park last month by mutual consent.

He is not by any means an unknown quantity to Magpies boss Jamie Fullarton, who worked with Banton at Selhurst Park. 

He also shared a dressing room with Guy Branston at Home Park in 2013 – the Notts scout, then a defender at Argyle, said Banton had the ability to play in the Championship.

Curtis wrote: “It's clear there is an abundance of talent that has not reached anywhere near its potential. He's quick, he possesses a trick, he's strong and has the ability to go past people in the blink of an eye.

“Since Julian Jenner left – after what was a pretty uninspiring few months – Notts do not have any player like it in their squad.

“Graham Burke is more suited to a more central position, while Adam Campbell and Ronan Murray are forwards being played out wide. 

“Banton could certainly provide something that Notts don't have in that respect, although he seems to be the type of player who needs to be kept "on top" of. If you can and you get consistency, then Banton has enough quality to be one of the best wingers in the division.”

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