Bournemouth: Las Vegas consortium hopes to buy Premier League club
A Las Vegas-led consortium is aiming to complete a takeover of Premier League club Bournemouth by the end of October.
It is believed that Bill Foley, owner of the National Hockey League (NHL) team Las Vegas Golden Knights, is leading the bid.
The consortium has entered a period of exclusivity over the purchase of the club with terms and a price for the purchase already agreed.
Bournemouth were promoted from the Championship in May.
The club are owned by Russia-born businessman Maxim Demin.
Subject to a review from the Premier League, the new owners hope to be in position at the Vitality Stadium by the end of next month.
It would be the latest American investment into the English top flight after a group led by Todd Boehly took over Chelsea in May.
Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Leeds, West Ham and Manchester City all also have US investment on some scale.
Speaking at a news conference before Saturday’s game at Newcastle, Bournemouth caretaker manager Gary O’Neil said he had not been informed of any imminent change in the ownership of the club.
“I haven’t heard anything of it over my side,” he said.
“We’re working on the football side, making sure we are fit, ready and sharp. I haven’t heard any chat around a takeover.”
Analysis
Simon Stone
If this deal is agreed, it would take the number of United States owned Premier League clubs to eight out of 20 – and that does not include Leeds United, where the owners of San Francisco 49ers have a minority 44% stake, or the City Football Group, where private equity group Silver Lake has just become the second largest shareholder, taking a 14.5% stake in the group that controls Manchester City.
American Foley is the 77-year-old owner of the Golden Knights and, evidently, he sees there is money to be made by owning a Premier League club and he has his eyes set on Bournemouth
However, fans will want more detail around the proposed funding of the sale if current owner Demin agrees to it, particularly if it involves the type of borrowing another US company, ALK Capital, used to complete their purchase of Burnley.
Supporters of too many clubs have been stung by apparent new ownership offering hope of a bright future only for the reality to be somewhat different to take these deals at face value.
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