Post by Macmoish on Aug 9, 2024 13:08:42 GMT
www.mkdons.com/news/2024/august/09/change-of-ownership/
Consortium led by Fahad Al Ghanim completes acquisition of Milton Keynes Dons Football Club and the Stadium MK Group from Pete Winkelman
Club News
9 minutes ago
By MK Dons FC
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After almost exactly 20 years at the helm, Pete Winkelman has today passed on the torch of leading Milton Keynes Dons Football Club and the wider Stadium MK Group to a Kuwait-based consortium led by Fahad Al Ghanim.
The deal, which leaves the club and stadium group debt-free, has now been ratified by all parties and the EFL.
Winkelman’s decision has not been taken lightly and is led by a desire to see MK Dons compete at the very highest level of English football, while also ensuring both the football and stadium assets remain together.
Fahad Al Ghanim is an entrepreneurial businessman leading a Kuwait-based consortium. Fahad has worked across many sectors, including banking, investment, automotive and real estate and his family are the owners of Kuwait SC, one of the most successful football clubs in the Middle East.
Fahad first attended a game at Stadium MK over a year ago and has since demonstrated a relentless determination to identify how he could help improve the club, as well as the capabilities to invest significantly in MK Dons and the City of Milton Keynes as a whole.
The consortium has the opportunity to reignite a significant sporting dream for Milton Keynes, offering great hope and optimism for what the club can achieve in the future.
In the short term, the new ownership group are keen to allow Pete Winkelman the moment he deserves to reflect on his legacy and say goodbye as Chairman to all MK Dons supporters this weekend.
A video message from Pete Winkelman can be found here, detailing the reasons behind his decision, his exciting views on what Fahad Al Ghanim and the new ownership group can achieve in Milton Keynes, and a brief reflection on the 20-year journey of MK Dons so far.
A short message from Pete Winkelman can also be read below:
Dear Friends,
MK Dons are 20 years old this year and throughout that time we’ve been on a rollercoaster of highs and lows that we have all come through together.
From winning the League Two and EFL Trophy double in 2008 and promotion to the Championship in 2015, to developing the most successful hotel and events business in the region, we have been able to bring some unforgettable experiences to Stadium MK and Milton Keynes.
Equally, we have faced difficulties navigating global events such as the financial crash in 2008 and, more recently, the Covid pandemic, where we not only survived but were able to host the first live sporting events in the country.
However, what has become clear to me in recent years is that while I am so proud of Stadium MK and the sustainable business we’ve created, it can only support the development of the Football Club to a certain level, without separate and significant investment.
Over the last year, I have been able to spend time with Fahad and he has convinced me that he brings the passion, determination and ambition to see the club participate at the highest level and has the resources to help it do so.
It is, therefore, time for me to step aside and put the custodianship of the club and the wider business into new hands.
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.
Finally, I would also like to sincerely thank my family for giving me the strength to lead the club for more than two decades. It has been a joy and an honour to be part of the unrelenting effort that created both MK Dons and Stadium MK and I step away reassured this legacy will continue to contribute to our wonderful City of Milton Keynes for the foreseeable future.
I’m sure I’ll see you at a game soon.
Come on you MK Dons!
Pete Winkelman
A short message from Fahad Al Ghanim can be read below:
Hello MK Dons supporters,
As Chairman of the group and on behalf of Deputy Chairman Hamad Almarzouq, it is with immense pride that I can now introduce myself as the new Chairman of Milton Keynes Dons football club and the wider Stadium MK group following my acquisition of the business from Pete Winkelman.
I know this will come as a surprise to many of you and represents a great change as Pete has led MK Dons since the club’s inception 20 years ago.
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 will I’m sure have many questions about what will change at MK Dons, and the first thing to tell you is that nothing will change in the short term, no one will be made redundant, and the structure of the business will fundamentally remain the same. Our first focus will be on strenghtening the first team squad to give the club the best chance 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 coming months, there’ll be a chance to assess the club and its functions, before making additions where necessary to help the hard-working and dedicated staff 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!
Finally, I would like to sincerely thank Pete Winkelman and his senior staff at Stadium MK for all their help over the last few months, and for the dignity with which they’ve represented themselves and the Milton Keynes Dons Football Club. Pete and his team have achieved much in Milton Keynes and I’m extremely grateful for the trust they’ve placed in me to continue their work.
I’m excited to discuss further how we can shape our plans for the club, city and community, but in the meantime, I look forward to being at Stadium MK for the beginning of the season on Saturday.
Best wishes, and come on you MK Dons!
Fahad Al Ghanim
**
Fahad Al Ghanim will attend MK Dons' opening game of the season with Bradford City on Saturday with Pete Winkelman, where he will greet MK Dons supporters.
Consortium led by Fahad Al Ghanim completes acquisition of Milton Keynes Dons Football Club and the Stadium MK Group from Pete Winkelman
Club News
9 minutes ago
By MK Dons FC
Share
After almost exactly 20 years at the helm, Pete Winkelman has today passed on the torch of leading Milton Keynes Dons Football Club and the wider Stadium MK Group to a Kuwait-based consortium led by Fahad Al Ghanim.
The deal, which leaves the club and stadium group debt-free, has now been ratified by all parties and the EFL.
Winkelman’s decision has not been taken lightly and is led by a desire to see MK Dons compete at the very highest level of English football, while also ensuring both the football and stadium assets remain together.
Fahad Al Ghanim is an entrepreneurial businessman leading a Kuwait-based consortium. Fahad has worked across many sectors, including banking, investment, automotive and real estate and his family are the owners of Kuwait SC, one of the most successful football clubs in the Middle East.
Fahad first attended a game at Stadium MK over a year ago and has since demonstrated a relentless determination to identify how he could help improve the club, as well as the capabilities to invest significantly in MK Dons and the City of Milton Keynes as a whole.
The consortium has the opportunity to reignite a significant sporting dream for Milton Keynes, offering great hope and optimism for what the club can achieve in the future.
In the short term, the new ownership group are keen to allow Pete Winkelman the moment he deserves to reflect on his legacy and say goodbye as Chairman to all MK Dons supporters this weekend.
A video message from Pete Winkelman can be found here, detailing the reasons behind his decision, his exciting views on what Fahad Al Ghanim and the new ownership group can achieve in Milton Keynes, and a brief reflection on the 20-year journey of MK Dons so far.
A short message from Pete Winkelman can also be read below:
Dear Friends,
MK Dons are 20 years old this year and throughout that time we’ve been on a rollercoaster of highs and lows that we have all come through together.
From winning the League Two and EFL Trophy double in 2008 and promotion to the Championship in 2015, to developing the most successful hotel and events business in the region, we have been able to bring some unforgettable experiences to Stadium MK and Milton Keynes.
Equally, we have faced difficulties navigating global events such as the financial crash in 2008 and, more recently, the Covid pandemic, where we not only survived but were able to host the first live sporting events in the country.
However, what has become clear to me in recent years is that while I am so proud of Stadium MK and the sustainable business we’ve created, it can only support the development of the Football Club to a certain level, without separate and significant investment.
Over the last year, I have been able to spend time with Fahad and he has convinced me that he brings the passion, determination and ambition to see the club participate at the highest level and has the resources to help it do so.
It is, therefore, time for me to step aside and put the custodianship of the club and the wider business into new hands.
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.
Finally, I would also like to sincerely thank my family for giving me the strength to lead the club for more than two decades. It has been a joy and an honour to be part of the unrelenting effort that created both MK Dons and Stadium MK and I step away reassured this legacy will continue to contribute to our wonderful City of Milton Keynes for the foreseeable future.
I’m sure I’ll see you at a game soon.
Come on you MK Dons!
Pete Winkelman
A short message from Fahad Al Ghanim can be read below:
Hello MK Dons supporters,
As Chairman of the group and on behalf of Deputy Chairman Hamad Almarzouq, it is with immense pride that I can now introduce myself as the new Chairman of Milton Keynes Dons football club and the wider Stadium MK group following my acquisition of the business from Pete Winkelman.
I know this will come as a surprise to many of you and represents a great change as Pete has led MK Dons since the club’s inception 20 years ago.
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 will I’m sure have many questions about what will change at MK Dons, and the first thing to tell you is that nothing will change in the short term, no one will be made redundant, and the structure of the business will fundamentally remain the same. Our first focus will be on strenghtening the first team squad to give the club the best chance 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 coming months, there’ll be a chance to assess the club and its functions, before making additions where necessary to help the hard-working and dedicated staff 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!
Finally, I would like to sincerely thank Pete Winkelman and his senior staff at Stadium MK for all their help over the last few months, and for the dignity with which they’ve represented themselves and the Milton Keynes Dons Football Club. Pete and his team have achieved much in Milton Keynes and I’m extremely grateful for the trust they’ve placed in me to continue their work.
I’m excited to discuss further how we can shape our plans for the club, city and community, but in the meantime, I look forward to being at Stadium MK for the beginning of the season on Saturday.
Best wishes, and come on you MK Dons!
Fahad Al Ghanim
**
Fahad Al Ghanim will attend MK Dons' opening game of the season with Bradford City on Saturday with Pete Winkelman, where he will greet MK Dons supporters.