Arsenal major shareholder Danny Fiszman won't consider selling his stake to David Dein.
"Danny and David are the two heroes of Arsenal at board level over the last 10 years, but their relationship has become so bad that many insiders are saying this is a fight to the death over the future of the club," explained Payton to the News of the World.
"Danny's message to me was crystal clear and in an hour-long meeting was adamant that: 'I don't want to sell. I love this club and am staying.'
"Now, apart from anything else, I hear Danny will carry on just to stop David getting back in.
"Danny is the guy who took away David's mobile phone and marched him out of the office in April after Dein failed to persuade the board to buy into the Kroenke dream."