The Scottish suitors of the Xfm radio stations outside London want Global Radio to sell them as soon as it takes over GCap, their present owner.

The suitors, who are Adam Findlay, the son of Richard Findlay, the chairman of Virgin Radio owner SMG, and entrepreneurs John Quinn and Gordon Beattie, tabled a bid for the stations following the announcement of their disposal in February.

The bidders were soon forced to withdraw when GCap entered talks with Global.

“We would like to speak to the new owners about the Xfm stations outside London, especially the one in Scotland,” Mr Beattie told Times Online.

The three Xfm stations are expected to make a combined loss of £800,000 this year. While they are unlikely to come with a high price tag, any buyer will need to have the financial power and industry knowledge to make them profitable. If the Scottish bid succeeds, the stations will be rebranded.

Xfm in South Wales only launched in November, with the help of Manic Street Preachers' bass player Nicky Wire, while Xfm in Scotland launched two years ago, backed by celebrities including Sharleen Spiteri and Carol Smillie.

Ashley Tabor, the chief executive of Global Radio, is as yet undecided whether to sell the Xfm stations when the GCap purchase is completed.

Global Radio announced on Monday that it had agreed to by GCap for £375 million.

The three FM licences were being sold by GCap as part of the strategic review of the company that was unveiled on February 11.

Fru Hazlitt, GCap's newly appointed chief executive, said at the time of her strategy announcement, or “defence document”, in February that if the stations remain unsold, the licences will be handed back to Ofcom.

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