PAUL Baker is keen to sell Cherries to Adam Murry – and also leave the way open for a mystery Middle East backer to acquire the club at a later date.

Baker was last night due to resume talks with one of the two parties that has expressed an interest in buying the club, having been frantically trying to broker a deal all week As exclusively revealed by the Daily Echo yesterday, Cherries chief executive Alastair Saverimutto confirmed he has been in “frontline negotiations” with a party from the Middle East.

And we can also reveal the second prospective purchaser is former Cherries director Murry, who is understood to have the support and backing of ex-chairman Jeff Mostyn.

Baker is still waiting to see a letter of intent and proof of funds from representatives of the Middle East group, while Murry is ready to take the reins immediately.

And with Cherries’ financial position becoming more precarious by the day, Baker would like to conclude a compromise deal to satisfy both parties.

Baker, who said he was not at liberty to reveal the identity of the prospective buyers, told the Daily Echo: “Option A (the Middle East party) is everybody’s preferred route and we have to leave the door open for that to drop into place.

“Personally, I feel we have to press on regardless and somehow structure a deal to make sure the club functions in the interim period.

“There is nothing to stop us brokering a deal with option B which would then allow for option A to come off within that agreement.

“Until I’ve seen something tangible and in black and white, no deal will be concluded with option A. As of yet, I have not seen anything and am waiting for a letter of intent from the representatives’ lawyer.”

Baker admitted the club’s short-term financial position was becoming a concern to him but said both deals on the table would allow the club to continue to pay its way. And with the club’s winding-up petition due to be heard in the High Court on Wednesday, he said he would be hoping to conclude a deal over the weekend.

Baker added: “We need to be doing something in the interim to provide short-term stability to keep the club buoyant. I’m all for getting a short-term solution finalised rather than wait for something that may happen in hours, days or weeks.

“The last thing I want is for tomorrow to come and then for somebody to say it’s going to happen on Monday. Everything looks credible but we’ve had nothing put in front of us so far. Until we’re at that stage, we have to do something in the short term.”

Saverimutto, who describes his investors as a “significant group of people”, added: “The representatives of this party are jumping through hoops and have agreed, in principle, a deal.

“While there is turmoil at the football club off the field with regard to investment, it doesn’t stop me from concentrating and remaining focused on securing the long-term future of the club.”