Haverfordwest County Completes Takeover of Hamilton Academical
Haverfordwest County, a club in the Cymru Premier, has successfully completed a takeover of the financially struggling Hamilton Academical.
The Morley Sports Management Group (MSM) has acquired 97.5% of the shares in the Scottish League One club from Seref Zengin, who was recently deemed unfit to hold a position within football by the Scottish FA.
Hamilton Academical faced relegation last season after receiving a 15-point deduction due to several violations, including failure to pay players, issues related to stadium ownership, and player registration problems.
This season, the club has incurred another 15-point penalty and was on the verge of fielding a weakened team due to unpaid wages before their scheduled match against East Fife was postponed because of a frozen pitch.
In a statement on their website following the takeover, Hamilton announced that their immediate priority is to ensure that overdue salaries are paid to players and staff, along with establishing operational and financial controls.
MSM, which specializes in sports investment and management, took over Haverfordwest County in 2020, and the club has since participated in European competitions twice over the past three seasons. Additionally, MSM owns Ohio Valley Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky.
Rob Edwards, the owner of MSM, has been appointed to Hamilton's board, alongside Neil Blankstone, a senior investment manager, and Allan Currie, a former head of inward investment in Scotland, who will serve as the interim chairman.
The club expressed optimism about the future, stating, "This move marks a new and exciting chapter for Hamilton Academical Football Club." They extended their gratitude to Seref Zengin, the club's Supporters Liaison Officer, and the Accies Supporters Association for their support during the takeover process.
Hamilton also thanked their players and staff for their dedication during these challenging times. The club has promised additional board and staff appointments in the near future.
Following the recent resignation of manager John Rankin due to financial difficulties, Darian MacKinnon has taken over as caretaker manager. Had it not been for the points deductions, the team would currently be positioned third in the league rather than near the bottom.
The Accies Supporters Association welcomed the takeover, acknowledging its involvement in the process. They stated, "Rob is fully aware that the club has endured a difficult period in its 151-year history and that significant challenges lie ahead. We firmly believe that our club will have capable leaders who will strive to turn things around."
Neither the new ownership nor the supporters association has commented on future plans concerning the club's home stadium, which was relocated to Broadwood Stadium, 15 miles away in Cumbernauld, this summer following a dispute with Hamilton Community Stadium.