BREAKING NEWS: Danish company to take over Croydon Athletic (From Croydon Guardian)

BREAKING NEWS: Danish company to take over Croydon Athletic

1:27pm Thursday 2nd December 2010 in Sport By Kirsty Whalley

A Danish company has bought a controlling interest in the scandal-stricken Croydon Athletic Football Club.

Fodboldsekskabet A/S will become joint owners of the club from January 1.

Disgraced owner Mazhar Majeed will retain a 49 per cent of the Ryman League Premier Division side and will continue to play an active part in the running of the Club.

He is currently on police bail over allegations he was involved in a Pakistan cricket match-fixing scandal.

The Danish football fans' company, led by Palle Rasmussen and Christopher Baadsgaard signed an agreement with the club today.

They plan to bring in Danish Championship players in the New Year to bolster the squad, which has been made up of volunteers in recent months after the club was unable to pay the players.

Mr Rasmussen revealed his company had been looking at seven clubs in England. However, after visiting the KT Stadium, he was so impressed by the resolve of the club in times of difficulty, the enthusiasm of the volunteers and the fighting spirit of the players battling to get a result that he felt that his company could “make a difference” .

A spokesman from Croydon Athletic said: "Fodboldsekskabet were fully aware of the financial situation at Croydon Athletic, and negotiated closely with Mr Majeed, whom Mr Rasmussen commended for being “completely transparent” about the problems and financial issues at the club."

Mr Rasmussen and Mr Baadsgaard head a group of more than 400 Danish football enthusiasts who are fanatical about English football and dreamed about owning a British club. They had previously been involved with a possible takeover at Chester City eight months ago.

Croydon Athletic is the only English club owned by the Danes, and the story has made headlines in the country. Mr Rasmussen said his main aim for this season was to keep the Rams in the Premier League.

Mr Rasmussen has a five year business plan in place for the Rams, designed to improve the squad and increase the revenue through sponsorship and business opportunities. Dave Garland and Bob Langford have been confirmed in their positions as joint managers for the season, and have sole control over the first team squad. A Rams spokesman said: "The Rams can now look forward to a period of stability for the rest of the season."