Cliftonville takeover 'momentous occasion' - Harding

Cliftonville are currently seventh in the Irish Premiership

Cliftonville chairman Kieran Harding said that the impending takeover from the Toronto Investment Group [TIG] is a "momentous occasion" for the club.

Cliftonville club members voted to accept a takeover proposal from the TIG at an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday night.

Whilst the legalities of the takeover by the Canadian consortium are still to be finalised, Harding believes it is a hugely significant step for the club.

"The members recognised the need for investment in the club to be able to compete," Harding told BBC's Sportsound programme.

"It was a momentous occasion, but it is with a heavy heart, we have always been a members club and that was a challenge for many of our members, but they knew we had to move with the times.

"It is testament to them and their vision that they have accepted the proposal."

'They have made a long-term commitment to the club'

Harding explained that the Canadian consortium will own 90% of the club whilst the members will have a 10% stake as the group were keen to let the members have a "voice" in the running of the club.

Whilst he was unable to disclose how much money TIG are investing in the north Belfast side, he said it was "certainly millions".

"They're a group from Canada and one is from Northern Ireland, Conor Devine, who played for Cliftonville and Dungannon," Harding added.

"The guys in Canada are huge businesspeople who have an interest in sport in Canada and beyond.

"It's a long-term commitment they have made to the club; they want to transform the club as much as they can and that will start by transitioning into full-time football and how we can redevelop the ground and improve facilities."

Harding hopes that the Reds' move to full-time football will take place over a number of years, but that plans for moving forward are still to be ratified.

"Over the next two to three years we will transition, but we haven't sat down yet with them to go through the detail of the timing of everything but that will take place next week."