Andy Pilley, owner of English Football League side Fleetwood Town, is set to become the new owner of Waterford FC.
The 52-year-old Blackpool native is leading a consortium which have finalised talks to purchase the club from current owner, Mr. Richard Forrest.
Mr. Pilley was pictured at Friday night’s win over Galway United at the RSC and was also present this evening as the Blues drew 0-0 away to league leaders Cork City.
John Fallon of the Irish Examiner has reported that the news is set to be made official at a press conference in the next 48 hours.
Club Chairman, Mitchell Cowling, is set to retain his role despite the change of ownership, as the board’s previous asking price of €1.3m for the sale of the club has not been fully met.
Mr. Pilley has guided Fleetwood Town from the ninth division of English football to the third, League One, having purchased the club for £500 in 2004. He oversaw the sale of Jamie Vardy to Leicester City when he became the first non-league player to ever sell for over £1m.
He also owns a number of third division clubs in both South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, as he bids to expand his existing ownership portfolio.
The Examiner are reporting that the new owner of the Blues is set for a courtroom date in two months time.
Mr. Pilley and three of his business partners will stand trial on the 10th of October having been accused of intending to defraud creditors, false representation and another count concerning the retention of criminal property. The charges come back to the running of Pilley’s company, Business Energy Solutions.
Should a deal be brokered, he will become the third owner of Waterford FC in less than three years, with Richard Forrest having bought the Blues from Lee Power less than 18 months ago.
