ENTER THE DRAGAN
Southampton set for £150m takeover by Serbian billionaire Dragan Solak with owners Gao Jisheng looking to sell
SOUTHAMPTON have new owners after a £150m takeover backed by Serbian media magnate Dragan Solak.
Sport Republic, a company fronted by former Brentford chief Rasmus Ankersen, has bought the 80 per cent stake from controversial Chinese businessman Gao Jisheng.
2
2
And the Saints are set to become part of a multinational, multi-club group as Sport Republic target further purchases.
Ankersen, who left his roles with Brentford and Danish partner club FC Midtjylland in December, is chief executive of Sport Republic.
Solak made his fortune as founder of United Group, a pay TV, broadband and mobile phone company that operates in the Balkans and South East Europe.
United, now owned by investment firm BC Partners, holds the right to show Premier League matches in Serbia and other territories.
Solak remains a strategic adviser to United but has now teamed up with Ankersen and another Dane, London-based investor Henrik Kraft, to create a different kind of empire in football.
Speaking about the takeover, Solak said: “My partners and I have experience in long-term investments in the sports and entertainment industry and Sport Republic has been founded to combine this expertise and deliver something unique to the market.
Most read in Football
“Southampton will be a cornerstone of the organisation we plan to build.”
Saints fans will welcome the departure of absentee owner Gao but should not expect Sport Republic to throw huge sums of money at the club.
It’s a very different kind of takeover to the Saudi-led buyout of Newcastle.
Kraft added: “We will be an active and engaged owner, but we will not be starting any revolutions. “We were attracted to Southampton because it is already a well-run club that follows a clearly defined strategy.
“Our ambition is to build a portfolio of high-influence stakes in football clubs and other sporting assets across the world.
“At the same time, we will also invest in early-stage sports technology companies and use our portfolio to accelerate the development of these companies.
“The acquisition of Southampton is a great first step and we are very excited about the journey ahead.”
Current Southampton CEO Martin Semmens will continue to run the club on a day-to-day basis.
Read More Sun Sport
Semmens revealed the club had been approached by several other parties wanting to buy out Gao, who has been seeking to sell up for some time.
Semmens said: “Sport Republic are experienced investors, but also experienced within the world of elite professional sports.
“That combination is very hard to find, and we are thrilled to have reached an agreement that secures our short and long-term future.
“We searched the world for good people with the ambition and resources to lead us into the next era and I am happy to confirm we have found them.”
Kraft is Ankersen’s co-shareholder and director in Sport Republic and the company’s chairman.
He will become chairman of Southampton Football Club and parent company St Mary’s Football Group.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
Former majority owner Katharina Liebherr will retain her 20 per cent stake in the club.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Southampton currently sit 14th in the Premier League.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's side have won four of 19 games so far this season.
⚽ Read our Transfer News Live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals
Topics