Alexandre Pato has takeover deal ratified as EFL club hail ‘important milestone’

Alexandre Pato is about to enter into the world of EFL football ownership, with the former striker set to become the majority shareholder of Northampton Town.

Pato is part of a consortium that has agreed a deal to buy a controlling stake in the League Two side.

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The deal involves Pato and Sports Alpha Capital, and it has been passed by the Independent Football Regulator.

Alexandre Pato has takeover deal approved

In a statement, Northampton Town’s chairman Kelvin Thomas said: “The successful completion of both the IFR and EFL processes represents an important milestone for the club and should provide supporters and stakeholders with further confidence in the proposed investment and the foundations being put in place for the club’s future.

“As one of the first football clubs to be considered under the new regulatory framework, the proposed investors have been required to successfully navigate both the EFL clearance and IFR approval processes.

“This has been a detailed and rigorous process, involving significant scrutiny of the proposed investment, the ownership structure, financial sustainability and the suitability and financial standing of those involved.

“The successful completion of both the IFR and EFL processes represents an important milestone for the club and should provide supporters and stakeholders with further confidence in the proposed investment and the foundations being put in place for the club’s future.

“We would like to thank both the EFL and the IFR for their professionalism, diligence and thoroughness throughout their respective processes.

“During this time, we have also enjoyed getting to know the investors and principals behind Sports Alpha Capital and are excited about what they can bring to Northampton Town.

“As supporters will see from their varied backgrounds, there is a genuine passion for football within the group.

“A number of the investors have already visited Northampton, spent time at the club and attended matches.

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“They will bring a strong blend of football, corporate and financial expertise to the club and with significant Brazilian representation within the group, we also hope they might bring a little Brazilian excitement and flair with them.

“Now the regulatory processes have been completed, we move towards completing the remaining documentation and finalising the investment.

“Full details regarding the investment, structure and the principal investors involved will be announced upon completion.

“We thank the fans for their patience, but it is reassuring that these in-depth processes are in place for football.”

The club stressed that the remaining documentation must now be completed before the investment is finalised.

Pato getting his hands on the Cobblers is a lesson in persistence.

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That is because his consortium had been initially set to buy Colchester United.

The former Chelsea and AC Milan striker even went and watched the U’s in action, and talks were at an advanced stage.

But they were unable to come to an agreement, and Pato moved for the Cobblers instead.

At the time, they had just been relegated to League Two.

They haven’t made a great start to the league, failing to win any of their first four.

That is made up of three draws and one defeat, with the club sitting 18th, and the one thing Pato won’t want is for them to drop into the National League.