A £3 million takeover of two golf clubs near Wolverhampton has fallen through, the Express & Star can reveal today.

An unnamed millionaire had been in line to snap up the Perton Park and Swindon clubs, but the deal is now off.

A member of staff said the sale had been shelved as the Allen family had decided to keep the clubs.

The Express & Star reported in February that a tycoon was poised to sign the contracts on the clubs in Wrottesley Park Road, Perton, and Bridgnorth Road, Swindon.

At the time, general manager Simon Edwin, who was unavailable for comment today, said: “We are now in the final part of the deal and expect to be under new ownership by the middle of March.”

The courses have more than 1,000 members between them and went on the market in June last year after owner Sue Allen decided to retire.

At the time, Perton members considered forming a consortium to buy the club themselves.

Swindon, which has 500 members, was founded in 1974 and bought by Charles Cooper, Mrs Allen’s father, in 1986.

The green fee for an 18-hole round at Swindon is £32 and at Perton, £25.