The 117-year-old club’s chairman has issued a warning, stating that it is about to fold.
A US company has started a “period of exclusivity” to purchase Rochdale AFC, marking a significant advancement in the proposed takeover that could save the team.
Simon Gauge, the chairman of Rochdale, has previously issued a warning, stating that if a new investor is not found by the end of this month, the storied 117-year-old club may dissolve. After shareholders opted to dilute their ownership to generate nine million additional shares through a crunch vote, two corporations openly indicated interest in purchasing The Dale.
Rochdale announced today that it has now engaged into a “short period of exclusivity” with World Soccer Holdings in an update on their website. The Texas-based company, which has previously made investments in various football-related projects,
The club made the following announcement on its website: “Rochdale AFC can confirm that it has partnered with World Soccer Holdings LLC for a brief period of exclusivity.
“This exclusivity period relates to the planned purchase of the club’s recently minted shares, which was approved at the most recent EGM. The club will work to keep all interested parties informed during this time, and more developments will come soon.”
World Soccer Holdings already owns a sizeable chunk of MVV Maastricht, a club currently sitting in mid-table in Holland’s second division. Previously WSH had been rumoured to take over at another Dutch second division side, ADO Den Hag, but no deal was done.
WSH is also believed to be involved in football setups in America.
Last week, The Football Club LLC, a group headed by businessmen Justin Corrado and David Dwyer, become the second company to publicly announce that it had signed a letter of intent to buy Rochdale.
Yesterday, the club was force to deny claims by the town’s new MP, George Galloway, that the football club had been saved. Mr Galloway, who won a by-election in the town earlier this month, posted a video on social media declaring that a new owner had taken over the club. But the club insisted negotiations were still ongoing and no final deal had been agreed.
