Port Vale Football Club have confirmed that Norman Smurthwaite has sold his controlling stake to local business owners Carol and Kevin Shanahan.
The news will come as a huge relief to fans who have been protesting over the way Smurthwaite had been running the League Two club leading to relations becoming strained to breaking point in recent weeks.
The new owners are supporters of the club and regularly follow them home and away. They had been trying to get a deal done for some time but talks stalled after Norman Smurthwaite refused to take part payment.
However, with the deal now finally over the line the club confirmed in a statement that Vale Park is now back under the control of the club and all revenue generated by the stadium will go to the Port Vale FC.
The club have released the following statement: pic.twitter.com/uA6SPA4HEP
— Port Vale FC (@OfficialPVFC) May 7, 2019
The new owners will no doubt hope that fans will return to the club and purchase a season ticket in a show of support.
Speaking in advance of the deal, Supporters’ Club chairman Mark Porter said: “I think the fans should come back in their thousands.
“If it all goes through I would be asking all Vale fans that, if they can invest, to go out and buy a season ticket.
“We really could do with those supporters coming back so we can make the club, not just part of the community, but on an even keel again and really pushing towards the top half of the league.”