Ex-San Diego co-owner Fowler invests in Lincoln

Former executive chairman and co-owner of Major League Baseball side San Diego Padres, Ron Fowler, has bought a minority stake in League One side Lincoln City.

American Fowler and his son Andrew, through their Liquid Investment business, have taken a 12.6% share in Lincoln's parent company.

Arizona-based Harvey Jabara, who is said to be a "long-term friend and associate" of Fowler, owns 37.75% of Lincoln City Holdings and remain the club's biggest stakeholder.

“I have experienced success in the sporting world before, both in baseball and football, and look forward to contributing to Lincoln City’s continued growth quietly in the background," Fowler told the Lincoln City website.

“I have a lot of respect for Harvey and it was clear when I met Clive [Lincoln chairman Clive Nates] and Liam [chief executive Liam Scully] that these were people I could work with."

The father and son are the latest high-profile Americans to get involved in the Imps, with former USA international and Everton forward Landon Donovan working as a strategic advisor at the club.

Fowler, who is a leading figure in the beverage industry in the United States, has put a "seven-figure" sum into the Imps, who are aiming to clinch a League One play-off spot on the final day of the regular season this weekend.

The investment in a third-tier English football club comes 12 years after Fowler headed a group that took control on the Padres in 2012.

He worked as executive chairman of the MLB side until 2020, then took up the role of vice chairman before his involvement in the club came to an end in 2022.

While Fowler's backing of the Imps is his first foray into English football, he has previously owned a club - the San Diego Sockers - in the old North American Soccer League.

"It's great news to have someone so well known and trusted, certainly to myself Clive [Imps chairman Clive Nates] and in particular the Jabara family, who is coming in to assist us with the continued growth of this football club," Lincoln CEO Scully told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

Scully also revealed the club has already benefited from Fowler's knowledge after first being introduced by Jabara a number of years ago.

"There are already things he has assisted and helped us with," Scully said.

Jabara said Fowler's work at the Padres has "been a model" for his own approach at Lincoln, which he first got involved with in 2021.

"At no time in my professional career has someone reminded me more of my father than Ron Fowler," Jabara said.

"With that, I have no higher praise for an individual."

More than financial benefit - analysis

BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Michael Hortin:

Ron and his son Andrew’s major investment will see them eventually become the third largest investors in Lincoln City behind the Jabara family and chairman Clive Nates.

In addition to the financial benefits, the club will be keen to make the most of Ron Fowler’s business experience particularly from when he was involved as executive chairman with the Major League Baseball franchise the San Diego Padres.