South Shields FC Announces Completion of Majority Stake Acquisition by International Consortium

South Shields FC (“SSFC” or the “Club”) is pleased to announce that an international consortium anchored by ORY Investment Holding Limited (“ORY Investment”) has successfully acquired a majority interest in the Club.

Following the completion of this transaction, Mr. Geoff Thompson will remain as Chairman and as a significant shareholder. He will continue to lead the Club in supporting integration efforts, ensuring operational continuity, and safeguarding the Club’s community values and long-term interests.

The transaction has received approval from both the National League and The Football Association, with the new ownership structure coming into effect on May 29, 2026. The agreement follows a thorough process led by Mr. Thompson to identify long-term partners committed to safeguarding the Club’s identity, supporting its community foundations, and providing the capital base for the next stage of the Club’s journey.

What remains unchanged

The Club’s football operations will continue as usual under the current leadership team. Ian Watson will serve as First Team Manager, with Carl Magnay continuing as Assistant Manager, alongside Mike Williamson as Director of Performance and Culture, Chris Bell as Technical Director, Billie Luther as Head of Finance, and Francesca Callebaut as General Manager. The new ownership group offers its full support to the football leadership team, with attention now focused on the squad, pre-season preparations, and the upcoming season. The South Shields FC Foundation, Women’s Team, Academy, and the Club’s close ties with supporters, volunteers, and the wider South Tyneside community remain central to the Club’s identity and will continue to do so. Strengthening community engagement and supporter involvement will remain at the heart of the Club’s identity.

What’s new

Following a corporate restructuring undertaken as part of the transaction, South Shields Football Club Group Limited is now owned by South Shields FC Limited (“SSFC BVI”), a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. All shareholders now hold their respective interests in SSFC BVI. This restructuring is intended to position the Club to access global capital opportunities and support its ongoing funding and growth initiatives.

The investor consortium, anchored by ORY Investment, brings together international investors with experience across capital markets, private equity, and real estate development. Jason Ye, who heads the consortium through his holding of ORY Investment, is a Partner and seasoned capital markets lawyer at the U.S.-based law firm Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP. Mr. Ye is also the Founding Partner of its affiliate firms - Ortoli Rosenstadt Ye - in Singapore and Hong Kong, bringing extensive expertise in finance and business operations. This strategic alliance between Club’s current shareholders and new investor group marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for South Shields FC, focused on long-term stability, sustainable growth, and renewed ambition both on and off the pitch.

Geoff Thompson and the new investor group will jointly undertake a comprehensive strategic review of the Club’s operations. This review will focus on enhancing on-field performance, elevating the supporter experience, and strengthening financial sustainability, while preserving the Club’s proud heritage and identity.

During the current offseason, the ownership group will prioritise strengthening the men’s first-team squad to support the Club’s competitive ambitions in the years ahead.

Central to this vision is leveraging the investors’ extensive global networks to bridge South Shields FC, a historic football club located in one of the UK’s most prominent regions for producing world-class football talent, with broader opportunities in international markets. The new ownership group is determined to establish a robust platform that enables the Club to attract new partners and support its long-term growth and success.

The continued development of Club’s youth academy will be equally important as elevating the Club’s international profile. The new ownership group aims to identify and nurture local talent from the North East, while expanding its international academy network to recruit promising players from around the world. The goal is to position South Shields FC as a gateway for local young footballers seeking pathways into professional football across the UK and Europe. In parallel, the new ownership group is committed to preserving South Shields FC’s status as a community-focused club that remains deeply rooted in its local heritage while evolving into a preferred destination for young players globally pursuing their football dreams.

Quotes from the New Ownership Group:

Geoff Thompson said, “I’m delighted we have reached an agreement with Jason and the whole investment group. The entire group has been a pleasure to work with on this transaction and has been extremely thorough in their approach. They’ve invested significant time to understand the Club, our history, culture and the huge potential we have. I’m very excited and thrilled to be working with them moving forward and genuinely believe this heralds an incredibly exciting new phase in the Club’s growth and development.”

Jason Ye, on behalf of the consortium, added, “It is a privilege to join an organisation that embodies such a rich heritage, strong community spirit, and a location at the heart of one of the world’s most prolific regions for football talent. We know there’s plenty of hard work ahead, but we’re fully committed to building on the fantastic foundation Geoff and the team have already created. We truly believe SSFC can grow into a strong force both on and off the pitch. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Geoff for welcoming our group into the SSFC family, and we’re looking forward to meeting the fans and sharing this journey together.”

Acknowledgements

The Club wishes to express its appreciation to Chairman Geoff Thompson for his leadership and commitment throughout this process, along with Billie Luther, Head of Finance. We also extend our sincere thanks to Alexander Jarvis of Blackbridge Sports LLC for advising on the transaction, as well as to Square One Law, Wiggin LLP, FRP Newcastle and Mourant for their expert guidance and support to all parties involved.