Still fiercely in favour of foreign investment, Dein said it was only a matter of time before more Premier League clubs fell into foreign ownership.

Without identifying them, he said: "I can tell you now that two or three clubs are looking for new owners and that this will happen within the next 12 months."

He also insisted foreign players were good for the game despite recent calls for a quota on overseas imports.

"I understand the argument for home-grown players but the game has moved on," Dein said.

"Why is the Premier League so successful? Because it has brought the best players in the world to England."

"Does anyone worry that Cesc Fabregas is from Spain or Michael Essien is from Ghana? Fans are only interested in one thing - and that's a winning team.

"Virtually 60 percent of the players in the Premier League are from overseas. You can't say it's fine to have that but not to have foreign ownership too.

"The Premier League is a hot product. I have not come across one billionaire investor who is in the game for anything other than the enjoyment of the sport. They are not there to rape the club."

Dein warned, however, that unless ticket prices come down over the next few years, grass-roots fans would suffer.

He said: "If we are not careful, we will price out a whole section of society. It's a sad indictment if you take a way a whole layer who can't afford to go.

"With all the monies coming in from TV, sponsorship and investors, something has to go back to the fans."