Woking were 'dead in the water' before agreeing sale

The entrance to Kingfield Stadium, home of Woking FCImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Woking are 18th in the National League and have won one of their last 12 matches in all competitions

  • Published

The "sky is the limit" for Woking under the club's incoming new owners, says Drew Volpe after agreeing to sell the financially-stricken club.

Volpe said the club were "dead in the water" before US businessman Todd Johnson signed a purchase agreement to acquire a majority stake in the National League club.

Former Dagenham & Redbridge vice chairman Johnson leads the Cardinal Football Group, and is also a member of the ownership group at Minnesota United, who play in Major League Soccer.

"We needed help. This club was dead in the water financially," Volpe told BBC Radio Surrey.

"This happened in 2019 and again in the summer but Todd has come in and saved us."

Volpe revealed in a BBC interview in July that he had been within weeks of putting the club into administration, having invested more than £3m of personal capital into the Cards.

A £600,000 loan from his parents allowed them to begin the season, he had said.

'The sky is the limit for this club'

Volpe said Johnson had first expressed an interest in buying the club, who are currently 18th in the National League, back in "February or March".

"Todd brings a wealth of experience both from the football side and from the business side," he said.

"He shares the same vision that I had. At some point you run out of money.

"I honestly think that the sky is the limit for this club now that we have the right people in place."

Volpe and his business partner John Katz took over Woking in 2021.

A 15th-place finish in the National League in 2021-22 was followed by a promotion push that ended in fourth place behind Wrexham, Notts County and Chesterfield in 2022-23, with Woking beaten by Bromley in the play-off eliminator.

Woking have had a tough start to the season and are just four points clear of the relegation zone, with one win in their last 12 matches in all competitions.

Volpe said the next step in the sale was to hold a general meeting of current shareholders before the deal is completed.