Dale Vince, the activist and entrepreneur, has accused the Guardian’s owners of telling “a complete lie” about his interest in taking control of The Observer.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Vince, who has numerous interests in green energy and owns Forest Green Rovers football club, said his discussions with Guardian Media Group (GMG) had been misrepresented in a statement released Friday announcing that the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper was sold to Tortoise Media.
GMG and its owner, Scott Trust, said they had not received any credible alternative offers for The Observer and that Mr Vince had said he would only be interested in buying it if there was a problem for close the deal with Tortoise Media.
On Friday afternoon, however, the entrepreneur denied this suggestion.
“I don’t understand why my interest in the Observer continues to be misinterpreted by the Guardian/Scott Trust,” he said.
“Last week the Trust Board learned that I was only interested in investing in Tortoise Media – a complete lie.
“And now staff are being told I was only interested if the Tortoise deal fell through: that’s not true either.
“I had a meeting with the president of GMG (Charles Gurassa) a few weeks ago during which I explained my background, my interest, my abilities and my intentions.
“I was told that exclusivity prevented a deeper conversation.
“I said I understood and would be there – ready, willing and able – if the deal fell through.
“It seems more than disingenuous to say that I was only interested in the event that the deal fell through – given that I was told that was the only circumstance in which GMG could discuss further with me.
“(It’s) a bit of a catch-22: I’m told I can’t bid, then they say I didn’t bid.”
Mr Vince’s remarks threaten to cast further shadow over the deal announced on Friday, which will see the Scott Trust invest £5 million in Tortoise Media and take a seat on the board of the new owner of The Observer.
Guardian and Observer journalists went on strike for two days this week to protest the sale, which they said represented a betrayal by the Scott Trust.
Staff reportedly held an emergency meeting in the chapel on Friday afternoon to discuss the possibility of further industrial action.
In its announcement, the Scott Trust said it expected to sign the deal with Tortoise Media within a few days.
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If completed, The Observer will come under new ownership for the first time since the early 1990s.
Founded in 1791, it is the oldest Sunday newspaper in the world.
Its acquisition by a digital media startup will highlight the changing dynamics sweeping the global news media landscape.
GMG has been contacted for further comment.