Pato consortium's Northampton investment approved

What the report says

Northampton Town have received regulatory approval for a proposed investment from a Brazilian-led consortium, the League Two club said, with the Independent Football Regulator and the English Football League both clearing the planned shareholding acquisition. The group, Sports Alpha Capital, includes former AC Milan, Chelsea and Brazil forward Alexandre Pato and London-based investment firm Gemcorp Capital, according to the BBC Sport report. The size of the stake has not yet been disclosed.

The club said the announcement follows months of speculation after it first revealed in April that it was in talks with a well-funded investment group. Northampton chairman Kelvin Thomas said the process involved detailed checks on the structure of the deal, the financial background of those involved and the long-term sustainability of the club. He said the approvals were an important step toward completing the investment and would give supporters greater confidence in the club’s future.

BBC Sport reported that Pato, 37, retired from playing last year and is best known for his time at AC Milan. Sports Alpha Capital had also been linked earlier this year with Colchester United before pulling out of those discussions. Full details of the investment are expected once the deal is completed.

The development comes during a difficult period for Northampton, who were relegated from League One last season and have yet to win in the current campaign. The club also reported a pre-tax loss close to £3m in April, and Thomas has previously said the investment could help leave the club debt-free.