Peterborough United: Darragh MacAnthony back as club's sole majority shareholder

Peterborough's then co-owners made a presentation to Darren Ferguson for his 500th game in charge of the club in 2021

Chairman Darragh MacAnthony has again become the sole majority shareholder of League One side Peterborough United.

MacAnthony, then 30, became the youngest owner of a professional English club when he took over in 2006.

But he sold half his stake to Jason Neale and Stewart Thompson five years ago, through their Canadian business Kelgary Sports and Entertainment.

They recently stood down from the board and the club said MacAnthony had bought a "significant number" of their shares.

"The last 14 months have been testing for all of us, but each of us love the football club and have worked incredibly hard to see it succeed," he said in a club statement.

"I truly believe we are on the verge of some exciting and great times as a club.

"We have a long way to go to be as good as we can be on all fronts, but trust me when I say that everybody at the football club is working 24/7 to make our club better every day."

MacAnthony has also confirmed a loan settlement agreement with OKR Financial Limited, a firm founded by Neale and Thompson, which lent money in 2021 to facilitate the purchase of Peterborough's Weston Homes Stadium by the three co-owners.

The company they set up to buy the ground, London Road Peterborough Properties Ltd (LRPPL), went into receivership in March because of what was said at the time to be an "ongoing dispute with its primary lender".

MacAnthony added: "I am delighted to announce that after a lengthy negotiation we have signed off on a long-term agreement with OKR Financial on all debt owed to it by Peterborough United Football Club.

"This is something I have worked on for nearly 10 months and at no stage, contrary to clickbait online articles designed to destabilize our club, did I ever worry about the future financial health of the football club or getting a deal done that works for all parties.

"The three of us still own the company that owns the stadium and in the new year that is the next important 'to do' item on my list to resolve."

Peterborough are fourth in League One under Darren Ferguson, who is in his fourth spell as manager, having missed out on promotion last season when they were beaten on penalties by Sheffield Wednesday in the play-offs after their two-legged semi-final ended in a 5-5 aggregate draw.

Ferguson's side are away to Fleetwood Town on Saturday.