Forest Green Rovers have confirmed that Dale Vince, founder and MD of local company Ecotricity, is in the process of taking a major shareholding in the Limited Company.
Dale, who has a passion for the game of football and who together with his sons regularly play 5-a-side locally, has agreed to invest ‘a sizeable sum’ in his local club. He has attended several meetings with directors of the club in recent weeks and attended matches as well as meeting with David Hockaday, the club’s first-team manager.
Dale will be working with the FGR FC Board to develop a plan to ensure the club’s long-term success, which will include promoting the club’s other facilities including its modern gym, dance studio and conference centre.
Forest Green currently employs a large number of staff both full-time and part-time and this move brings further security and puts the club on a more stable financial footing.
Vince said: “Forest Green is a great local club and I'm really pleased to have the chance to work with them and join them in their endeavours both on and off the pitch.
“I'm currently talking with the Directors about a number of things that Ecotricity can do to help the off the pitch (or non football) side of things, and with the manager, Dave Hockaday, to see what we can do to strengthen the team while the transfer window is still open.
“There's a fantastic team spirit at the club and it's already been a real pleasure for me to be a (small) part of that. I'm looking forward to the kick off of the season this coming weekend and to the many great things we can do together in the coming years.”
Meanwhile, Forest Green Rovers informed their supporters via their website: “The Board has been quick to respond to the reprieve which we received only a few weeks back, coupled with sorting out our Inland Revenue issue. Having already entered a strong partnership with Coventry Building Society we are thrilled to have such a high profile local company decide that this club is a major community asset.
“We welcome Dale and in particular his wishes to bring a new and creative approach to his investment. We are hopeful that this major news will spur on others that the club is vibrant and is about to move into a new era. Based on the growth of his own company in such a competitive field as being an energy provider, this is the sort of news which all connected with us must be very upbeat about”
They added: “Under the new structure which has evolved in the club since the new Board was appointed there has been a collective effort to encourage more local companies and organisations to join with us.
“Obviously many in the county see the football side as the most important part of our set-up but we have a raft of opportunities for others to join those efforts in our other areas of trading. We expect to see with our new partners, new ideas, new ventures and we have no hesitation in inviting others to come on board for the exciting times which lie ahead”.
