Hampshire owners have Southern Brave 'intention'

Southern Brave were beaten by Oval Invincibles in the final of this summer's The Hundred men's competition

Hampshire’s new owners intend to pursue sole ownership of the Southampton-based Hundred franchise, the Southern Brave, county chairman Rod Bransgrove has said.

In an historic deal, GMR Group, which co-owns the Delhi Capitals of the Indian Premier League (IPL), completed a takeover of the club on Monday following nearly 12 months of negotiation.

The initial deal is solely for control of Hampshire, who become the first county to be owned by an overseas franchise.

But Bransgrove told BBC South Today there is a clause in the agreement which would see GMR pay an additional sum for Hampshire’s 51% stake in Southern Brave, if and when England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) plans to allow counties to sell their stakes are ratified.

He said GMR’s "intention" would also be to acquire the additional 49%, should the ECB decide to sell it to them for market rate.

"They haven’t actually got their hands on (Southern Brave) yet. The plan proposed by the ECB hasn’t been finalised or completed," said Bransgrove, who will remain as Hampshire chairman for at least two more years.

"The agreement is not contingent on that happening. If it does happen then there will be an additional payment, but we still wait and see because although it is a proposal, it’s not yet cast in stone."

He added that GMR "may well be" one of several bidders for the remaining 49% share, the sales of which will be overseen by the ECB and appointed advisors the Raine Group and Deloitte.

"GMR are fully aware that it can't be sold for below market rate," added Bransgrove. "It’s beyond our gift, but that certainly would be an intention of GMR."

Rod Bransgrove rescued the ailing county in 2000

Bransgrove arrived at the club in 2000 when it stood on the brink of bankruptcy and revitalised its fortunes after becoming the first person to take a county club into private ownership.

He said he was proud of his achievements over the past 24 years, which have included helping the club relocate from its home of 116 years in Northlands Road, in Southampton, to the Utilita Bowl on the edge of the city.

Hampshire have won numerous limited-overs titles during his tenure and finished second in the County Championship twice, while they will host an Ashes Test for the first time in 2027.

He said the takeover was "sensational news", and added that he was "more proud now that I know the club is going to be safe and secure for the long term with proper money behind it so we can get to the top table of English and world cricket and stay there."

GMR holds a 50% stake in the Delhi Capitals (IPL and Women's Premier League), the Dubai Capitals (International League T20) and South Africa T20 side Pretoria Capitals (SA20) as well as investing in USA Major League Cricket club Seattle Orcas.

The takeover will see an immediate debt of £7m paid off, while Bransgrove said he does not expect any changes on the field.

"In terms of domestic cricket, GMR love the way that we do it," he added.

"In our first XI we like to field a mix of our development players and some elite professionals - we’re going to continue doing it.

"On the surface I don’t think there will be any change at all in the way we are doing things in domestic cricket."