Altrincham FC has received a cash injection of an estimated £1.5 million after a group of UK business investors have now backed the club.
The Trafford-based team currently compete in the National League and have now welcomed 20 new British investors as they look to continue developing the club and move further up the football pyramid.
With those involved said to be “leading UK business people with a direct connection to the local community”, the goal is to not only progress on the pitch but improve their football operations across the board, update the Moss Lane stadium and invest in the local area.
A big step forward for a club that only recently registered as professionals.
Club Statement: We can today announce new equity investment which will support the next phase of the club's development.
Altrincham FC’s full statement on the arrival of new investors.
Informing the fan base in an official statement, the club said, “The new investors will own a significant minority between them and have invested with the aim of supporting the Board’s vision of building sustainable success and the leading local community-focused football club in the country.”
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Detailing their backgrounds, they explained that the new parties “come from a range of industries including finance, media, property, technology and e-commerce, [bringing] a range of skills to support the club with its exciting plans for growth.”
The full list of backers is yet to be confirmed but one of them, Shalni Arora — of the Alder Hey Children’s Foundation Trust Hospital, Chair of the Innovation Committee and CEO of the Savannah Wisdom charity — stated that “investing in Altrincham FC is more than an investment in football. It is an investment in our community…
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“It is such an exciting opportunity to make a difference to those who live, work and play in our local area… We are a group of shareholders who are passionate about football and how a local club can have a powerful, positive impact on community relations.”
Lawrence Looney, Co-Chair of Altrincham FC, said: “The club has made great progress in recent years moving up two divisions and establishing itself as a full-time professional club.
“We are delighted to welcome our new investors who are completely aligned with our values and strategy and are passionate about football and the real impact the club can have on the local community.
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“Aside from the financial aspect, we believe that this group brings a unique breadth and depth of expertise. This investment should enable the club to accelerate its growth plans while maintaining its prudent approach to ensure the club has a strong, sustainable and exciting future.”
The money might not sound like much in the grand scale of football finances, but for a club the size of Alty it could prove truly transformative. We love a local success story and we can’t wait to see The Robins keep building this season and beyond.
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Danny Jones -
16th August 2023 
