Altrincham Football Club has secured a significant new round of equity investment worth £1.45m as the club continues its pursuit of promotion to the Football League.
The investment comes at a crucial time for the Robins, who endured a disappointing end to their National League campaign, with hopes of reaching the play-offs definitively dashed following last weekend's 6-1 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge.
The lead investors in this latest funding round are Simon and Michelle Orange, who are already well-established on the North West sporting landscape as the majority owners of Sale Sharks Rugby Club.
The investment represents a significant vote of confidence in Altrincham's potential despite their recent on-field struggles.
"As local and passionate sports fans we are hugely excited to be getting involved with Alty alongside the rest of the investors," said Michelle Orange. "We share the Board's passion for great community sport and look forward to achieving meaningful success on and off the pitch."
Simon Orange, who recently sold his Altrincham-based investment firm Corpacq in a deal reported to be worth more than £1 billion, brings considerable business acumen to complement the sporting ambitions of the club.
The majority of the £1.45m investment has come from local businesspeople.
The conclusion of the fundraising has coincided with the departure of co-chairman Lawrence Looney, who has decided to step down after seven years on the board.
During his tenure, the Robins transformed from a semi-professional outfit in the Northern Premier League - following consecutive relegations - to a full-time professional club achieving back-to-back top-half finishes in the National League.
Bill Waterson will take on the role of chairman as the club undertakes a strategic review with its Board and major investors. Additionally, existing shareholder Mark Luby will be rejoining the board in an executive capacity after participating in this investment round.
The new investment arrives after a National League season that promised much but ultimately delivered disappointment for Altrincham supporters.
But the substantial investment and structural changes signal a renewed determination to achieve the club's long-standing ambition of securing promotion to the Football League.
