AFC Wimbledon members to vote on £87m Bertrand-led investment proposal

AFC Wimbledon members are being asked to approve a proposed £87m minority investment led by former England defender Ryan Bertrand. BBC Sport reported that the consortium's funding would come from technology businessman Omar Mir through Sloane Street Capital, with voting on the proposal due to close on 17 November.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zWja8jGm5I

Under the reported terms, the investor would pay £16m on completion for 34% of AFCW PLC, followed by £71m over five seasons through 2030-31. Bertrand would become senior football advisor as the group took responsibility for football operations, subject to budgets and procedures agreed by the company's board.

The BBC said the Dons Trust's voting rights would remain unchanged, with protections covering the stadium freehold and the club's identity. The Trust board recommends approval, but the proposal still requires a decision by members. It is not a completed investment or a transfer of majority voting control to the consortium.

That separate approval requirement was established earlier this year. In an April announcement, the Dons Trust said members had endorsed a 50.01% majority ownership model and constitutional changes in a second confirmation ballot. It recorded 4,794 participants, with 4,128 voting in favour of the ownership resolution. The Trust said the result removed the previous 15% minority investment cap and allowed it to begin identifying and vetting potential partners.

Crucially, the April announcement distinguished permission to negotiate from permission to complete a deal. The Trust said any specific investor or consortium would have to return to members for another vote before a final agreement. The current proposal therefore follows a process in which supporters first approved a change to the ownership framework and now have a particular investment package to consider.

In its notice for Wednesday's investor information meeting, the Trust said remote viewers could follow proceedings on Dons TV and submit questions by email. It also committed to publishing a frequently asked questions document for points left unanswered during the meeting, giving members a further route to examine the proposal before voting closes.