Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that he is interested in buying Arsenal football club.
But he acknowledged that he cannot mount a bid for the English premiership side until next April, when an agreement by the club's directors to resist any takeover bid expires.
"The directors at Arsenal don't want to sell and have signed a lockout agreement for a year, so we will have to wait and see what happens then," Ecclestone told The Times newspaper.
"A lot can change in that time. I am still very interested.
"If I could buy Arsenal I would, but I would want control."
Ecclestone is a friend of former Arsenal director David Dein, who split with the club last year.
Arsenal are currently valued at £432 million, and are also the subject of interest from American sports magnate Stan Kroenke, who has already spent £65 million buying 12 percent of the club.