Ryan Bertrand Leads £87 Million Investment Bid for AFC Wimbledon

Ryan Bertrand, the former England international, is stepping into the role of lead investor in a consortium eyeing an £87 million minority stake in AFC Wimbledon. The ex-Chelsea, Southampton, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest defender is teaming up with British tech entrepreneur Omar Mir, who will fully fund this significant share buyout through his investment firm, Sloane Street Capital (SSC). On Wednesday evening, the Dons Trust board shared their investment proposals with club members. The plan stipulates an initial £16 million investment for a 34% stake in AFCW PLC, the body that operates the club, with the remaining £71 million to be disbursed over the next five seasons, extending until 2030-31. If all goes according to plan, SSC will manage football operations, with Bertrand taking on the role of senior football advisor, all while adhering to budgets set by the AFCW PLC board. Currently, the Dons Trust holds 50.01% of the club’s voting shares, a structure designed to maintain fan control over AFC Wimbledon. Bertrand, who boasts a trophy-laden career including a Champions League title with Chelsea, expressed his excitement: "AFC Wimbledon's story is unique in English football and it was built by its supporters. We felt at home from our very first meetings." He emphasized their intention not to alter the club's identity, stating, "We are here to help it go further on and off the pitch, for the men's team, the women's team and the academy." Bertrand sees joining the Wimbledon family as a privilege, looking forward to engaging with club members and addressing their concerns in the coming weeks. Since 2020, AFC Wimbledon has been playing at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, which is near the location of their former home at Plough Lane. The proposed agreement protects the Dons Trust’s voting rights and gives them veto power over the stadium's freehold. Furthermore, SSC would hold two of the twelve board seats, while the Dons Trust would maintain control over the club's name, badge, colors, and constitution. If the investment deal goes through, Stuart Fiertz of Cheyne Capital and sports executive Oliver Ward would join the board. Importantly, if SSC were to sell their stake, the Dons Trust would have the first option to purchase and could reject any potential investors they deemed unsuitable. Additionally, should SSC miss any payments, their shares would stop increasing in value, allowing control to revert back to the club within three months. Dons Trust members have until November 17 to cast their votes on this proposal. Earlier this year, members expressed support for external investment as long as fan ownership and control were safeguarded. Since then, the board has evaluated over twenty potential investors, with SSC emerging as the frontrunner. AFC Wimbledon's legal team has also conducted thorough background checks on the consortium members involved. Angus Fox, chair of the Dons Trust board, remarked, "The deal brings at least £87 million into AFC Wimbledon over five years, while the Trust keeps a permanent majority of the votes, control of the Plough Lane freehold, and a veto over everything that makes us who we are. We have set out the factors to weigh as plainly as the opportunities." He added, "The board recommends a yes vote, but this is our members' club and our members' decision."