The supporters who own AFC Wimbledon will vote over the next four weeks on whether to accept an £87million ($116m) investment in the League One club from a consortium led by former Southampton and England full-back Ryan Bertrand. In a complicated deal, Sloane Street Capital (SSC), a newly set-up investment vehicle, would pay £16m for approximately 34 per cent of the club’s shares this season but then invest a further £71m over the next five years, at which point SSC would own 90 per cent of the club’s economic value. However, under a shareholders’ agreement, the club’s current owner — the 6,265-strong Dons Trust — will always retain at least 50.01 per cent of the voting rights, giving the trust veto control over the club and its stadium’s freehold. Bertrand, who played for nine different clubs during a 17-year career including Chelsea, Southampton and Leicester City, is SSC’s senior football advisor and would hold the same role for Wimbledon, with two of SSC’s minority shareholde...
Aston Villa today celebrated a 2-1 win over Manchester City despite playing in a three sided ground. The North Stand, behind one of the goals and opposite the famous Holte End, is closed for the 2026-27 season as part of Villa Park’s redevelopment. Once functional, it should house more than 12,000 spectators. Incremental additions to the ground’s three other sides will lead to the targeted capacity and, longer-term, to a 52,500-seat venue. Having secured Champions League qualification at the end of 2023-24, the football department were keen to avoid playing home matches in a three-stand stadium. There was a desire for Villa Park to remain atmospheric and intimidating for opponents, as well as not be an eyesore. Club sources estimate shutting the stand this season costs about £6million. Villa decided it was better to bite the bullet and get the work done in one season rather than two, as the estimated increased income from the revamped stand exceeds the agreed fixed interest r...