Fulham FC Welcomes New Owner Shahid Khan
Formal announcement made on Saturday
Fulham Football Club has issued a statement welcoming new owner Shahid Khan, who has bought it from Mohamed Al Fayed.
Mr Khan is the CEO of Flex-N-Gate Group and owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League in the United States.
The club says the transaction has been approved by the Barclays Premier League and Mr Khan has assumed 100 per cent ownership of the club, debt-free, as of Saturday July 13.
A formal announcement of the sale was made at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
“My time of serving as the custodian of Fulham Football Club ould one day come to an end, and I feel that time has now arrived,” says Mr Al Fayed.
“The time is right because I have found a very good man in Shahid Khan to accept the responsibility and privilege that I have enjoyed at Fulham since 1997.
“ Fulham will be in very good hands with Shahid, whose success in business and passion for sport is very evident. I ask everyone who loves Fulham and our Craven Cottage home to welcome Shahid as he begins his journey as the next guardian of Fulham Football Club.”
Mr Khan says: “I was recently very fortunate to have been introduced to Mohamed Al Fayed, a man I respect and admire immensely for what he has accomplished in his life and – above all – what he has given others.
“Today, he is giving me the privilege and responsibility of serving as the next custodian of Fulham Football Club. I am extremely honoured to accept and want to thank him, on behalf of everyone who loves Fulham, for 16 years of exceptional service to the Club. Mr Al Fayed rescued the club in its hour of need and has led it to a sustained place within the Premier League.”
Shahid K han is president and owner of Flex-N-Gate, the 14th-largest North American automotive supplier. Flex-N-Gate’s products include interior and exterior plastics, lighting systems, mechanical assemblies, metal structural body components, and exterior metal parts.
In December 2011, Mr Khan’s agreement to purchase the Jacksonville Jaguars was unanimously approved by the NFL, making him the first minority team owner in league history. Khan’s personable approach, enthusiasm and bold vision for the Jaguars have since made him a popular figure in Jacksonville and throughout the NFL.
He adds: “Fulham is the perfect club at the perfect time for me. I want to be clear, I do not view myself so much as the owner of Fulham, but a custodian of the club on behalf of its fans. My priority is to ensure the club and Craven Cottage each have a viable and sustainable Premier League future that fans of present and future generations can be proud of.
“We will manage the club’s financial and operational affairs with prudence and care, with youth development and community programs as fundamentally important elements of Fulham’s future.”
July 13, 2013
