Pete Winkelman has offered MK Dons and the Stadium MK Group to a Kuwait-based consortium led by Fahad Al Ghanim, bringing an finish to his 20-year affiliation with the membership.
The deal leaves the membership and stadium group debt-free and has been ratified by all events following clearance from the EFL.
MK Dons start their League Two marketing campaign in opposition to Bradford Metropolis on the Stadium MK on Saturday, dwell on Sky Sports activities+, and Winkelman might be given the prospect to say farewell to the membership.
He purchased out Wimbledon as a part of a consortium in 2004, happening to ascertain MK Dons as a brand new entity, and has remained as membership chair since.
In a message to the followers, Winkelman mentioned: “MK Dons are 20 years previous this 12 months and all through that point we have been on a rollercoaster of highs and lows that we’ve got all come via collectively.
“What has turn into clear to me lately is that whereas I’m so happy with Stadium MK and the sustainable enterprise we have created, it may possibly solely help the event of the soccer membership to a sure degree, with out separate and important funding.
“During the last 12 months, I’ve been in a position to spend time with Fahad and he has satisfied me that he brings the eagerness, willpower and ambition to see the membership take part on the highest degree and has the sources to assist it accomplish that. It’s, due to this fact, time for me to step apart and put the custodianship of the membership and the broader enterprise into new palms.
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Liam Kelly felt becoming a member of MK Dons was a chance he couldn’t flip down and says it’s a challenge he’s excited to be part of
“There are so many people to thank who have shared this journey, supporters, managers, players, and of course all our incredible staff. I’m also hugely thankful to all our brilliant club partners and sponsors for their unwavering support over the years.”
However MK Dons will now be taken over by a brand new group, led by businessman Al Ghanim, who watched his first recreation at Stadium MK over a 12 months in the past.
He has beforehand labored throughout quite a lot of sectors, together with banking, funding, automotive and actual property and his household are the homeowners of Kuwait SC, some of the profitable soccer golf equipment within the Center East.
In his personal assertion, Al Ghanim added: “As chairman of the group and on behalf of deputy chairman Hamad Almarzouq, it’s with immense delight that I can now introduce myself as the brand new chairman of Milton Keynes Dons Soccer Membership and the broader Stadium MK group following my acquisition of the enterprise from Pete Winkelman.
“Let me be the first to reassure you that my ambition is to build on the fantastic foundations already here in Milton
Keynes, and to take MK Dons to the next level, both on the pitch and off it.
“You’ll I am positive have many questions on what’s going to change at MK Dons, and the very first thing to let you know is that nothing will change within the brief time period, nobody might be made redundant, and the construction of the enterprise will essentially stay the identical. Our first focus might be on strengthening the first-team squad to offer the membership one of the best probability of promotion this season.
“I fully believe the team are in a great place, I’m not looking to disrupt the fantastic work done over the summer,
if anything, I want to add to it.
“Over the approaching months, there will be an opportunity to evaluate the membership and its capabilities, earlier than making additions the place
vital to assist the hard-working and devoted employees already in place at Stadium MK.
“To the MK Dons supporters, who I look forward to meeting very soon, I know this new era will represent change, but it can only be successful with your support, so I ask all of you to stand behind the club as we enter an exciting new season this weekend!”
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