Powerleague, the UK’s largest five-a-side football operator, has agreed to a £42m takeover offer.

The company, which owns 43 centres nationwide, is being acquired by Patron Sports Leisure, a division of private equity group Patron Capital – which with a 29 per cent stake is already Powerleague’s biggest shareholder.

Executive chair, Claude Littner, known for his appearances on The Apprentice alongside former Amstrad colleague Alan Sugar, will receive £2.6m for his 6.1 per cent stake.

Powerleague was formed in 1999 following the merger of Powerplay Soccer Centres and Anchor International, both investee companies of the 3i Group.

Littner led a management buyout of 3i in 2003. Powerleague gained an AIM listing in 2005.