Birmingham City Women Taken Over By Shelby Companies Ltd
Birmingham City Football Club have confirmed that Shelby Companies Limited, an affiliate of Knighthead Capital Management, LLC, has combined with several independent investors to complete the purchase of Birmingham City Women Football Club Limited.
Under the terms of the agreement, 97% of Birmingham City Women FC has been acquired by Shelby Companies Limited, with the remaining 3% purchased by the independent investors.
The independent investors include several prominent female business leaders and global professional sporting icons including Karen Carney OBE.
The former Birmingham City Women and England Lionesses legend, Carney is one of the most respected figures in women’s football. Joining Carney as an investor is Kim Clijsters, the former World Tennis Association number one.
The acquisition will elevate the focus on the women’s team and help it to deliver on the stated ambition for the club to compete at the highest levels in the women’s game. It also reflects Knighthead’s commitment to women’s sport in the city of Birmingham.
The club’s leadership team will continue to manage the day-to-day operations, with no immediate changes to staffing or football operations.
Jeremy Dale, Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham City, said: “Birmingham City has a strong heritage in the women’s game, competing at the highest levels and winning the FA Cup in 2012.
“It has developed outstanding talents like Karen Carney, Kerys Harrop and Jess Carter, who have represented the women’s game with distinction. To now have Karen, along with Kim Clijsters and several other prominent women business leaders as investors is a pivotal moment for the club.”
The Birmingham City Women’s Football Club Board, added: “The ambition is to go beyond anything that Birmingham City Women has achieved before – domestically and internationally.
“And in the process, inspire a new generation of young girls, who will get the opportunity to perform in the planned women’s stadium within the Birmingham Sports Quarter. This transaction will be a catalyst to make it happen.”
