The new owners of Sale Sharks will invest in the club to lift them from Premiership mid-table to a northern – and hopefully European – force.
CorpAcq Ltd. were announced as Sale’s new owners after 16 years under Brian Kennedy’s control, during which the club won the 2006 top flight title.
Manchester-based corporate acquisitions and investment company CorpAcq’s Simon Orange praised Kennedy for his resilience through some difficult financial times and said the platform would be used to spur Sale onto more success.
“We believe we can build on this success and take Sale Sharks to another level. With our planned investment I think we can close the gap between us and the teams above.
Sale Sharks have been taken over by CorpAcq Ltd pic.twitter.com/s4FlD2EHoa
— Sale Sharks (@SaleSharksRugby) June 9, 2016
“We intend to establish Manchester as a Premiership rugby region. The academy is one of the best in the Premiership with 12 of our junior players involved with England at various age groups and three senior players, originally from our academy, called up to the full England training squad.
“We plan further investment in order to strengthen it. Sale also have an award winning Community Service Program which we also intend to grow.
“I hope rugby fans from the region will support Sale Sharks and help us to build a dominant Northern Powerhouse both on and off the field.”
Simon: “It was always a ‘heart’ decision, but I now think this business is very viable. I think it’s going to be profitable, and successful”
— Sale Sharks (@SaleSharksRugby) June 9, 2016
Director of rugby Steve Diamond, fresh from leading Sale to sixth spot in the table last season to secure a lucrative berth in Europe’s elite Champions Cup, also thanked Kennedy and Ian Blackhurst for their continued support and stated his desire to get cracking next season.
“From the discussions I have had with Simon, I believe Sale Sharks has a very bright future.
“I am excited to be involved in the next steps for Sale as a team and a club. At a time when, for many reasons, Manchester and the North West is talked about, securing Premiership rugby in the region is really important for the national game.
“We want to grow this club and coming off the back of a good season is a great time to do it.”
Kennedy spoke of the great privilege of being involved with Sale – with other highlights including two European Challenge Cup wins in 2002 and 2005 – and praised employees, sponsors and fans for their steadfast support.
“I thank the supporters and the supporters club for the tremendous backing and dignified support they have given to our club, and to me personally, over the years through good times and difficult times.
“My business partner Ian Blackhurst and myself now hand the club over debt free and in healthy order to Simon Orange and his substantial business group CorpAcq.
“We are confident Simon and his team have the right credentials, energy and passion to take the club to the next level and we wish them and the club the greatest of success in the future.”
