The club is delighted to confirm a number of significant changes in the ownership and board structure.
Firstly, Club President Wael Al Qadi has reached agreement for the acquisition of a controlling stake in our holding Company Dwane Sports from the other members of his family. This provides him with full control over Bristol Rovers (1883) Limited (BRFC1883) and Bristol Rovers Football Club Limited(BRFC).
As part of this process, Wael has agreed to capitalise £18.4m of loans owed to Dwane Sports from BRFC 1883 and £16.5m owed by BRFC to BRFC1883. In addition to the above, he has also agreed to write off £2.1m in interest that was charged on these loans, leaving the club (apart from our ordinary trade creditors, leasing and HP agreements) substantively debt free.
Tom is the club’s Commercial Director and since joining the club in 2017 has worked on a number of projects that have significantly improved the club’s operations, fan engagement and revenues. Tom has a Business degree from the University of Portsmouth and joined the club after having worked in the Premier League for Portsmouth, Cardiff City and Brighton & Hove Albion. He won the Star of the Future Award at the 2013 Football Hospitality Awards and in 2015, he was the recipient of the Rising Star Award at the Stadium Business Awards. More recently, he was selected to be part of the inaugural Sports Industry Group NextGen programme working with the next generation of sporting leaders.
Karim is an experienced media and communications consultant, who after graduating with an MA from the University of Westminster, moved to the Middle East and established a PR agency that grew to become a regional partner of Hill & Knowlton, representing some of the most renowned global brands including Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, Visa, Jaguar Land Rover, Samsung and the Four Seasons hotel. Upon returning to the UK, he joined Bristol Rovers in 2016 in a business development capacity, helping the club work on all aspects of growth as it embarked on a new era under new ownership.
The above change of control and board appointments have all been ratified with the EFL and will shortly be processed through Companies House.