Spartans consortium to complete unprecedented takeover of English Football League club
Owner of Edinburgh part-timers spearheading buyout of historic EFL club
A Spartans consortium is on the brink of an unprecedented takeover of English Football League club Shrewsbury Town.
A group led by the American principal shareholder of the Edinburgh-based part-timers, Scott Davidson, has received the green light to proceed with a deal that will break new ground in cross-border dual ownership.
The buyout has been ratified by both the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and the English Football League (EFL) with approval from the Scottish Football Association expected to be forthcoming.
Current Spartans chairman Craig Graham is set to become a director of Shrewsbury while former United States international goalkeeper Brad Friedel is also on the proposed board. The 55-year-old is friends with Davidson, the Miami-based financier who has been involved at Spartans since 2021.
The fourth member of the new board is New York-based financier Will Dotson, who is also currently a director of Spartans.
The individuals involved have undergone stringent EFL and IFR owners’ and directors’ test including a thorough check of business background and relevant footballing experience to date. Graham and Dotson’s involvement remains subject to IFR approval, which is expected next week.
A player, Irish striker Ricardo Dinanga, is already on loan at Spartans from the Shropshire side, who were put up for sale by long-serving chairman and owner Roland Wycherley two years ago.
Spartans sit fourth in Scotland’s League Two and have an average home attendance of around 500. Shrewsbury, meanwhile, occupy second bottom place in League Two in England after five games and play in front of between 5,000 and 6,000 fans at New Meadow.
“As announced in the media today a consortium led by Spartans main shareholder Scott Davidson have been given EFL/IFR approval to purchase Shrewsbury Town FC,” said a statement from the ambitious Ainslie Park club. “The deal has yet to be finalised and is yet to receive SFA approval.
“The proposed new Board of Shrewsbury Town FC will be chaired by Scott and will also include fellow Spartans directors Will Dotson and Craig Graham, as well as Brad Friedel the US International and ex-Premier League goalkeeper. There will be an informal relationship between Spartans FC and Shrewsbury Town FC which will allow both of us to benefit from sharing knowledge and experience.
“We also both have excellent Community Foundations, this deal will provide valuable opportunities for collaboration and mutual learning. Further information will be shared as the acquisition process proceeds.”