Friedel group completes Shrewsbury Town takeover

What the report says

Shrewsbury Town’s long-running takeover has been completed, BBC Sport reported, ending a process that allows longtime owner Roland Wycherley to step aside after three decades at the club. The deal gives the American-led consortium Biscayne ST LLC control of 87.4% of the League Two side’s shares. BBC Radio Shropshire said the agreement means Wycherley can now retire.

The new ownership group is led by Miami-based businessman Scott Davidson and also includes New York financier Will Dotson and Craig Graham, chairman of Scottish League Two club Spartans. Former United States international goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who has played for Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, will join Shrewsbury as sporting director and work alongside manager Gavin Cowan.

Wycherley, who became chairman in 1996, first signaled more than five years ago that he wanted to sell, but the process took time as he sought a deal he felt was right for the club’s future. BBC Sport noted that his tenure included multiple promotions and relegations, as well as the move from Gay Meadow to the club’s current 10,000-seat stadium in 2007.

The article said Friedel attended Shrewsbury’s recent EFL Trophy win over Everton Under-21s, and that he and Davidson were expected at the club’s next home match. Shrewsbury were 15th in League Two at the time of publication, only two points outside the play-off places.