Agreement signed for Boundary Park stadium and surrounding land to transfer into new owners' hands

Latics' famous old Boundary Park stadium, and the land around it, are soon to be officially placed into the hands of the club's new ownership, the Rothwell family.

Local businessman Frank Rothwell became Latics’ new chairman last month after previous owner Abdallah Lemsagam and Simon Blitz, who owns landlords Brass Bank Ltd, agreed to “make significant compromises to enable the sale of Oldham Athletic Football Club and Boundary Park Stadium to be consolidated under one single ownership."

Latics announced the news in a statement last night (Thursday).

It read: "The Rothwell family are proud to announce that an agreement has been signed to secure the ownership of the Boundary Park Stadium, Car Park, Little Wembley and surrounding land.

"The signed agreement is a huge step forward to consolidate the club and stadium under one ownership to ensure stability for the future.

"In line with a transaction of this size and nature, we aim to complete the purchase shortly before Christmas.

"We would like to put on record how incredible Simon Blitz and Danny Gazal have been to get to this point.

"From the moment we agreed the deal, they have kept to their word and honoured the handshake.

"They have relentlessly tried to simplify the agreement and have ensured that no issues have derailed the deal. 

"Karen Proctor, partner of Knights PLC, with her team, have been incredible and a huge reason for the success of the project.

"We will never forget how many hours Karen worked while on a family holiday to get this over the line.

"We hope she enjoys her replacement holiday with no interruptions.

"Peter Norbury has been instrumental throughout this whole process, his ability to translate legal jargon and simplify it all was invaluable.

"We thank him for recruiting Karen and for also working while on holiday. He has truly been and continues to be an amazing asset to us and the club.

"Phil Parkes, Thomas Sinden, Marion Brewer from RSM have provided exceptional advice throughout, and we thank them for all their hard work. 

"Oldham Council, Executive and Council Leaders, initially Arooj Shah and recently Amanda Chadderton, for you support in our vision.

"Together we are going to build something special.

"Oldhamers helping Oldhamers to be proud of Oldham. 

"We appreciate all the team we have had behind us to pull the complex agreements over three parties in three different time zones in such a relatively short time.

"We are so proud to be able to pull this together which could not have happened without the amazing team we have.

"Thank you to all the support from everyone behind the scenes."

John Sheridan's Latics team host Aldershot Town in the National League tonight (Friday, kick-off 7.45pm).

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