FORMER England striker Mick Channon is being forced to sell the amazing £7million country estate he bought off The Queen.
The enormous complex encompassing more than 60 acres features a stunning main residence with six luxurious bedrooms.
The main residence on the amazing £7million country pile Channon bought off The Queen and is now being forced to sell
Also on site are two separate cottages, five three-bedroom detached bungalows and a further eight semi-detached bungalows, as well as four flats.
Located in sleepy West Ilsley, Berkshire, the ‘immaculate’ country house and racing yard have been put up for sale on Knight Frank with a whopping price tag.
Channon, 73, scored 21 goals in 46 games for England between 1972-77 and remains Southampton’s all-time record goalscorer.
The hugely succesful racehorse trainer wanted to modernise his yard and finance it through the sale of part of the estate.
But he was denied planning permission and now the stunning property is up for sale as a whole or in six lots.
The guide price is a massive £6,975,000 and takes into account the 105 loose boxes and 35 stalls for horses.
Aerial photos also show a covered trotting ring, lunging ring and covered horse walker.
Channon, who has made millions in racing since hanging up his boots, told the Racing Post: “It’s on the market, we’ve tried for planning and been turned down.
“This is a lovely place but we need to improve it.
“We’re looking to develop part of it so we can make it an up-to-date, modern yard.
“That’s what our plans were but we’ve walked into a brick wall.
The former Royal property is set in 62 acres of glorious rolling countryside
The sprawling yard features 13 bungalows and a further two cottages and four flats
“We wanted to build some American-style barns.
“We’re spread out over two or three acres, we have yards all over the place and we need to sell to build, you can’t pluck money out of the air.”
Channon, who also scored 24 goals in 72 games for Man City and enjoyed spells at Norwich and Portsmouth, wants to remain on the estate he bought from Her Majesty in 1999.
But he said: “We’ve been pushed into a corner. We’ve been forced down the road of selling the whole place.
“We’ll see what happens, we’re in no desperate hurry to move. We’d be looking for somewhere for [son] Jack really.
“It’s sad for West Ilsley and for everybody. The gallops are very special – of all those I’ve seen, only Henry Candy’s can compare with them.”
Channon remains one of the key Flat trainers and could pocket some useful prize money over the next few days.
There is accommodation for owners on site should they wish to stay
The interior has a touch of class about it – which you would expect for £7m
Ingra Tor is favourite for a £100,000 race at York on Saturday, while Legend Of Xanadu could provide a Royal Ascot win to the tune of roughly £40,000 next week.
Channon got hooked on racing when he won £100 from a £6 bet – but the bookies didn’t have enough cash to pay out in full.
He was big into horses when scoring 236 times in all for Southampton.
Channon was part of the Saints side that delivered one of the biggest FA Cup upsets ever when they stunned Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley in 1976.
He always had one eye on the nags though, often asking commentators for the results at half-time.
His best horse was Youmzain, a £33,000 buy who went on to win almost £4m on the track and finished runner-up three times in the prestigious Arc de Triomphe between 2007-09.
The beautiful yard was owned by The Queen until 1999
