Hamilton Academical Completes 97.5% Share Sale to Morley Sports Management Group.

Roger Hampel

Image: Hamilton Academical FC

Hamilton Academical FC (Scottish League One - 3rd tier) has confirmed the completion of a majority takeover by Morley Sports Management Group (MSM Group), with the new owners acquiring 97.5% of the club’s shares from outgoing shareholder Seref Zengin.

Board Changes Confirmed Following Takeover Hamilton Academical

As part of the ownership transition, Hamilton Academical announced several board-level appointments:

• Rob Edwards and Neil Blankstone have joined as Directors

• Allan Currie has been appointed Interim Chairman

The new board brings experience across finance, investment management and public-sector inward investment, with the club indicating that further board and operational appointments are expected in due course.

Profile of the New Owners

Morley Sports Management Group is a sports-focused investment and management organisation with existing assets in football and sports entertainment. The group currently operates Haverfordwest County AFC, who compete in the Cymru Premier, and also owns Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a long-established professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky.

Rob Edwards, MSM’s majority shareholder, previously acquired Haverfordwest County in 2020. Since then, the Welsh club has qualified for European competition in two of the last three seasons.

Immediate Focus: Financial Stability and Controls

In its first statement following the takeover, the incoming board outlined short-term priorities that include:

• payment of overdue player and staff salaries

• implementation of basic operational and financial controls

• stabilisation of day-to-day club operations

These steps point to a transition phase focused on financial normalisation rather than immediate sporting investment.

Hamilton Academical, historically recognised for its youth development and long-standing presence in Scottish professional football, now enters a reset period under new ownership in the third tier of the Scottish league system.