THE greetings card retailer founded by Huddersfield Town chairman Dean Hoyle has been linked as a possible buyer for part of the collapsed Clinton Cards chain.

Card Factory which was sold by Mr Hoyle in 2010 for about £350m, is understood to have approached Clinton’s administrator Zolfo Cooper about acquiring some of the firm’s stores.

WH Smith is also said to be interested in buying up to 350 stores out of the company’s total estate of 628 Clintons stores and 139 Birthdays outlets.

Clintons, which employs more than 8,000 people and has stores at New Street and Kingsgate in Huddersfield, together employing 20 staff, fell into administration on Wednesday after its biggest supplier, American Greetings, called in a £35m debt.

The administrators are continuing to trade the stores while efforts to sell the business continue.

Card Factory is Clinton’s biggest competitor with 596 stores, including ones at the Packhorse and Piazza centres in Huddersfield and others in Dewsbury and Batley.