Shrewsbury takeover advances with Scottish FA approval for Spartans links

Shrewsbury Town's proposed takeover has cleared another regulatory step after the Scottish Football Association approved the buyers' overlapping interests in Spartans. The Scottish club confirmed the decision on Tuesday, saying it covered the acquisition by the consortium led by Scott Davidson and the appointment of three men as directors of both clubs.

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Those directors are Davidson, Will Dotson and Craig Graham. Spartans said the ruling completed most of the acquisition's regulatory work and promised further updates when possible. Its statement did not announce a completed sale, so the clearance represents progress in the proposed change of ownership rather than confirmation that Shrewsbury have new owners.

BBC Sport reported that the American group, which also includes former goalkeeper Brad Friedel, had already passed due-diligence and financial checks set by the English Football League and the Independent Football Regulator. The Scottish approval addresses the interests arising from Davidson's position as Spartans' majority shareholder and the involvement of Dotson and Graham at the same club.

Shrewsbury identified Davidson as the consortium's leader in September. In that announcement, the club described him as a Miami businessman who became a Spartans director and majority shareholder in July 2021. A separate club update on September 18 confirmed that Graham and Dotson had passed the relevant owners' and directors' tests. It identified Graham as Spartans' chairman and a former KPMG partner, and Dotson as another Spartans director.

Spartans had outlined the intended relationship between the clubs in its September 11 announcement. It said the link would be informal, allowing the two organisations to exchange knowledge and experience. The club also envisaged collaboration between their community foundations. Those plans were presented while the takeover remained unfinished and Scottish FA approval was still outstanding; Tuesday's statement confirms that approval has now been obtained.

According to the BBC, Shrewsbury chairman Roland Wycherley put the club up for sale in 2024, and two previous takeover attempts subsequently collapsed. Talks with Davidson's group have continued for about six months, with hopes of completion before Christmas. That remains an aspiration, not a confirmed completion date. A completed sale would end Wycherley's 30-year ownership of the club.