Former England defender Ryan Bertrand is leading a consortium that has proposed an £87m minority investment in League One side AFC Wimbledon. Bertrand, who played for Chelsea, Southampton, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, is at the forefront of the group alongside British technology expert Omar Mir, the sole funder of the proposed minority share buyout through investment vehicle Sloane Street Capital (SSC).
The Dons Trust board presented the proposals to its members on Wednesday night. SSC would invest £16m on completion for a minority 34% of the shares in AFCW PLC, the company that runs the club. The remaining £71m would be spread over five seasons to the 2030-31 campaign. If the deal succeeds, SSC would oversee football operations, led by Bertrand as senior football advisor, but within budgets and processes agreed by the AFCW PLC board. The Dons Trust currently owns 50.01% of the voting shares, designed to keep the club fan-controlled.
Bertrand, who won the Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League with Chelsea, said: "AFC Wimbledon's story is unique in English football and it was built by its supporters. We are not here to change what this club is. We are here to help it go further on and off the pitch." Under the terms, the Dons Trust's voting rights would be unaffected, and it would hold veto control of the Cherry Red Record Stadium freehold. SSC would take two of the 12 board seats plus an observer position, while the Trust keeps a veto over the club's name, badge, colours, ground and constitution.
The voting period for Dons Trust members ends on 17 November. Since members backed outside investment earlier this year, the board has considered more than 20 potential investors, with SSC emerging as the strongest. Chair Angus Fox said the deal "brings at least £87m into AFC Wimbledon over five years, while the Trust keeps a permanent majority of the votes." The board recommends a yes vote, but the final decision rests with members.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing