American takeover at Bradford PA
One time Football League club Bradford Park Avenue are the latest Conference club to experience an American takeover. Barrow and Alfreton Town already have investors from the US.
Article Taxonomy: Takeovers
Articles on football club takeovers and related issues
First Chinese stake in top flight European club
Wang Jialin, chairman of the Dailan Wanda property group, is to buy a stake in Atlético Madrid. This represents the first Chinese investment in a top flight European club. It should help Atlético to build a fan base and attract sponsors in the key Chinese market.
Wang Jialiin is China’s second richest man with personal wealth estimated at $13.2 billion. His ambition is to build a global entertainment empire stretching from China to Hollywood. Last year his group bought the landmark Edificio Espana tower in central Madrid for €265m.
‘We want to buy a club’
Today’s edition of The Non-League Paper carries the following advert: ‘Small cartel of local businessmen are looking to acquire or take the majority interest in a non league football club. Ideally in or around the M25 but all responses considered. Our aim is to build a club both on and off the field and try to achieve League Two status.’
Rangers reject takeover offer
The Rangers board has rejected a takeover offer from American Robert Sarver who has an interest in the NBA side Phoenix Suns. The Suns have not done outstandingly well, but Mr Sarver is also a banker. He is chairman and chief executive of Western Alliance Bancorp. It is a small bank based in Arizona despite the rather grandiose title, but the shares have gone up 600 per cent in five years.
Three Bears take Rangers stake
The so-called Three Bears consortium has acquired a 16 per cent stake in Rangers, making them the largest shareholders in the club, The consortium is made up of Scottish businessmen George Letham, Douglas Park and George Turner. Its involvement offers the club a new way forward without the complications associated with Mike Ashley’s attempts to take control.
Could Qatar bid for Spurs?
Qatar currently lacks a Premiership football club in its trophy cabinet. Reports are circulating that they may be interested in acquiring Spurs, an interest being stimulated by London mayor Boris Johnson. He sees the new stadium at White Hart Lane as key to the deprived area’s regeneration, but at the moment the project is stalled.
Qatar Sports Investments, which owns Paris Saint Germain, has said that its focus is there and it is not interested in investing in Spurs or any other European club. But that does not rule out interest from other Qatari entities.
Hartlepool United taken over
Relegation threatened Hartlepool United have been taken over by a newly formed company, TMH 2014. The consortium is understood to be based in South Yorkshire.
Aberdeen-based Increased Oil Recovery have been in charge since 1997 and the regime has not been a popular one with fans.
Motherwell fans close to takeover
Motherwell fans are confident that they are close to taking control of the club. They have not raised quite as much money as they hoped, but retired businessman Lee Hutchinson has stepped in to help them.
The club has made losses of £780,000 over the past two seasons and is expected to record another loss this season, so there is a big financial challenge ahead.
Blues deny financial problems
Birmingham City have issued a statement denying that the club is facing financial problems. Last week former chairman Peter Pannu issued a statement claiming that they would have difficulty meeting a seven figure corporation tax bill.
Bolton in takeover talks
Bolton Wanderers are the latest club to be targeted for a possible foreign takeover. Chairman Phil Gartside has flown to Thailand for talks with entertainment company BEC-Tero and sports media giant Siam Sport Syndicate who are interested in making a joint bid. They are thought to value the club at around £40m.