They secured a 99.9% stake valued at £43 million
With its illustrious past and widespread popularity, English football has always been a cultural mash-up.
But a fresh pattern has surfaced recently, giving English football teams’ ownership structure a distinct taste.
In addition to the usual owners and investors, a noteworthy subset of South Asian businesspeople have left their imprint in both the business and sports domains.
These owners, who control clubs ranging from West Bromwich Albion to Fulham, bring a variety of experiences, goals, and backgrounds with them.
As a result, they have shaped the clubs’ paths and left a lasting impression on the English football landscape.
Let’s explore the fascinating backstories of a few of these trailblazing individuals and their forays into the football world
Neerav Parekh – Barnsley
Barnsley Football Club, based in South Yorkshire, competes in EFL League One, the third tier of English football.
It has multiple owners including, Julie Anne Quay, Chien Lee, Pacific Media Group, The Cyrne Family, and Neerav Parekh.
This overhaul happened in December 2017 when Patrick Cryne and his family relinquished an 80% stake in the club.
The stake was picked up by a consortium led by NewCity Capital’s Chien Lee and Pacific Media Group’s Paul Conway.
It was bolstered by the inclusion of Indian investor Neerav Parekh and Billy Beane, executive vice president of baseball operations for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.
In May 2022, it emerged that Pacific Media Group did not possess all the shares they purportedly held; instead, they acted as nominees for a quartet of investors who collectively owned 20% of the club.
After this revelation, Neerav acquired the shares of two of these investors, while Matt Edmonds acquired the shares of the remaining investor.
Following these transactions and additional equity raises, the club’s ownership is now understood to be primarily divided between Neerav Parekh, holding a 55.59% stake, and other shareholders.
The V H Group – Blackburn Rovers
The V H Group is an Indian conglomerate primarily composed of companies operating within the poultry industry.
Headed by Jitendra Desai, Venkatesh Rao, and Balaji Rao, the group acquired then-Premier League side, Blackburn Rovers in 2010.
Under Venky’s London Ltd, they secured a 99.9% stake valued at £43 million.
With this, they inherited around £20 million of the club’s debt.
Venky’s tenure witnessed a downturn, culminating in relegation to the Championship after the 11–12 Premier League season, ending an 11-year stint in the top flight.
Subsequently, Blackburn Rovers faced further relegation to the third-tier EFL League One after the 16–17 season.
Criticism of Venky’s management has persisted since their takeover, with fans and media questioning their decisions.
But, in September 2016, Venky’s publicly affirmed their dedication to the club.
Shahid Khan – Fulham
Arriving in the United States from Pakistan at the tender age of 16, Khan embarked on a journey to pursue his engineering studies at the University of Illinois.
His trajectory took a significant turn when he secured his initial employment at the nearby auto supplier, Flex-N-Gate.
Subsequently, venturing into entrepreneurship, he established a competing venture before eventually returning to acquire Flex-N-Gate.
Under his leadership, the company soared to global prominence, boasting a network of over 52 plants and a workforce exceeding 16,000 employees worldwide.
Additionally, Khan’s ownership extends to the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL) and the American wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
His ventures expanded further in July 2013 when he orchestrated the acquisition of the London-based football club, Fulham F.C., from its previous owner, Mohamed Al Fayed.
The transaction, finalised on July 12, 2013, involved an estimated amount ranging between £150–200 million, though the official purchase price remained undisclosed.
As of March 2023, Khan’s fortune stands at a staggering $12.1 billion, securing his position among the wealthiest individuals globally.
In 2021, he ranked 94th in the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans and claims the distinction of being the wealthiest individual of Pakistani descent.
Lakshmi Mittal & – Queens Park Rangers
Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, an Indian steel tycoon, is based in the UK.
He serves as the executive chairman of ArcelorMittal, the world’s second-largest steelmaking company, and holds the position of chairman at stainless steel manufacturer Aperam.
Mittal has a significant ownership stake of 38% in ArcelorMittal.
In 2005, Forbes recognised Mittal as the third-wealthiest individual globally.
This marked him as the first Indian citizen to secure a top-10 ranking in the publication’s annual list of the world’s richest people.
Additionally, he earned the distinction of being the “57th-most powerful person” among the 72 individuals listed in Forbes’ “Most Powerful People” list for 2015.
Mittal’s involvement in the realm of football garnered attention as he emerged as a potential buyer for clubs Wigan and Everton.
However, on December 20, 2007, it was revealed that the Mittal family had acquired a 20% shareholding in Queens Park Rangers football club, worth around £200,000.
This investment saw Mittal’s son-in-law, Amit Bhatia, securing a position on the club’s board of directors.
The move sparked speculation that Mittal might join the ranks of affluent individuals investing in English football, following in the footsteps of figures like Roman Abramovich.
Shilen Patel – West Bromwich Albion
Shilen Patel, an American entrepreneur, serves as the majority shareholder and chairman of the English association football club, West Bromwich Albion, competing in the Championship.
Residing in Florida, Patel operates as the founder and CEO of HealthAxis Group, a software company.
With a net worth estimated at 79.5 million as of 2024, Patel hails from a family of successful entrepreneurs, notably his father, Dr Kiran C Patel.
In February 2024, Patel orchestrated the acquisition of West Bromwich Albion from Chinese businessman Guochuan Lai.
Securing an 87% ownership stake in the club through his company, Bilkul Football WBA, Patel became the new face of the club which he jointly owns with his father, Kiran.
Additionally, Patel holds a minority share in the Italian Serie A club Bologna, a position he has maintained since 2014.
Notably, Patel’s ownership of West Bromwich Albion marks him as the first Indian American to possess ownership in any of England’s top football leagues.
The intriguing component of South Asian owners in the ever-changing fabric of English football reflects both the growing diversity within the sport’s power structures and its worldwide reach.
These businesspeople have given their teams new life and ambition by bringing not only their financial sense but also their love of the game.
South Asian owners will certainly continue to have an impact going forward and motivate a new wave of global supporters and stakeholders.
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