"Bristol-born billionaire Steve Lansdown has been majority shareholder of his hometown club since 1996 but admitted in 2021 he was searching for additional investment, which could mean a full takeover. "Yes, we had conversations with him [Alalshikh] and we are up for investment but it has to be the right investment," Rawcliffe told a fans' forum, external on Wednesday. He added there had been overseas interest from both "US and Middle East-based backers" and reiterated the Lansdown family had a desire to sell the club."
"Alalshikh, 44, is a Saudi Arabian government official who is among the most influential people in boxing and has previously owned football clubs in Spain and Egypt. City fall under the Bristol Sport umbrella which also comprises the Bristol Bears men's and women's rugby union teams and Bristol Flyers basketball. It also included the women's football team until it was sold in September to American investment group Mercury13."
""It's no secret that we're looking for investment whether that is a minority or majority," added Rawcliffe. "It's going to happen at some stage but the Lansdown family are not going to be here forever and we've got to prepare ourselves. We don't know what's going to happen in the future. "At the moment there's nothing imminent, but we are well backed." "We've had interest from all over the world." "Predominantly with football clubs and who is buying right now it tends to be US or Middle East-based backers and so we've had interest from both of those, but we haven't come overly close.""
Tom Rawcliffe confirmed Bristol City held talks with Saudi sports figure Turki Alalshikh about potential investment. Steve Lansdown has been the majority shareholder since 1996 and indicated in 2021 that additional investment could allow a full takeover. Rawcliffe said there has been overseas interest from US and Middle East-based backers and that the Lansdown family desire to sell the club eventually. Bristol City is part of the Bristol Sport group, which includes rugby and basketball teams and previously included the women's football team sold to Mercury13. Rawcliffe said no imminent deal exists but the club is open to minority or majority investment.
Read at www.bbc.com
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