Former Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis has revealed he could've sold the club to Carsen Yeung.
Ellis claims embattled Birmingham City owner Yeung once tried to buy him out in a multi-million pound takeover.
But Deadly Doug turned down the Hong Kong businessman, fearing the deal would land his beloved club with mountains of debt.
"I just wasn't going to hand the club over to anyone borrowing money," Ellis told the Sunday Mercury.
"Mr Yu spent a day with us at Aston Villa but they were borrowing money, so I said no.
"Yet Mr Yu was the Aston Villa shop's best customer. He had bags and bags of shirts and socks to take back to his boss."