Shrewsbury Town: American takeover deal done as Wycherley bows out
Shrewsbury Town’s long-drawn-out takeover deal has been completed, allowing former USA international goalkeeper Brad Friedel to come in as the Shropshire outfit’s new sporting director.
The paperwork on the share purchase agreement with Scott Davidson’s American-based consortium Biscayne ST LLC – which includes Friedel – has been finalised, taking up 87.4 per cent of the League Two club’s shares and allowing long-time owner Roland Wycherley to finally let go.
Miami-based businessman Davidson is joined on the new Town board by New York financier Will Dotson and Craig Graham, chairman of Spartans, the Edinburgh-based Scottish League Two club, while former Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur keeper Friedel will come in to work with manager Gavin Cowan.
After 30 years of leading the Shropshire club, since succeeding Ray Bailey as chairman in the summer of 1996, Wycherley can now retire at the age of 85.
The Shrewsbury-born lifelong fan first made his intention clear to sell more than five years ago when the Town were still a League One club.
But his dogged determination to do a deal he had to be convinced was right for the club’s long-term future before he handed over the reins has made the Shropshire businessman a tough adversary – and lengthened the process, to the frustration of Town fans.
