A consortium of investors, including Curt Smith, co-founder of the 1980s band Tears for Fears, is on the verge of completing a £6 million acquisition of Bath City Football Club. The group is led by Andrew Stalbow, a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur with a background in mobile games and entertainment, who intends to bring ambitious developments to the club and its facilities.
Bath City, affectionately known as the Romans, were relegated to the Southern League Premier Division last season and face Sholing in their opening league match today. The club has been under community ownership since 2017, with supporters currently holding a majority stake exceeding 50%.
The takeover bid, supported by both the club’s board and the Bath City Supporters' Society Committee, awaits shareholder approval to proceed. If successful, it would mark a significant investment geared towards elevating Twerton Park to meet Football League requirements, in turn energising supporters' hopes for a rise through the leagues similar to that of Wrexham.
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Bath City’s chairman, David McDonagh, expressed optimism about the deal: “This is an incredibly exciting moment in the club’s long history. Many, many people have worked tirelessly over the years to keep this club viable. The relegation this past season has underscored how challenging it is without external investment. We’ve been fortunate to have benefactors who have supported us discreetly, but this new backing is vital for the club’s survival and future growth. The board wholeheartedly recommends that shareholders vote in favour of this agreement.”
Andrew Stalbow, who previously led 20th Century Fox’s mobile division and is poised to become the club’s full-time chairman, stated: “We are thrilled to share our vision with the fans soon. Having spent significant time in Twerton over the past year and built many relationships, we fully appreciate the responsibility our roles carry. Our focus is to unlock Bath City’s potential, invest in Scott Bartlett’s team for the important upcoming season, support the women’s teams, and improve Twerton Park - all central to Bath City’s community spirit.”
Shareholders are invited to a ‘town hall’ event at Twerton Park on Thursday evening to meet Mr Stalbow and the investor group.
Ian McKay, chairman of the Bath City Supporters’ Society, shared his confidence in the investors: “We have been impressed by their understanding of what makes this club special and their commitment to community values. They have proposed allocating a supporter group seat on the new board and agreed to issue a Community Share alongside a Protected Rights Deed, granting the Society prior consent rights on fundamental club matters and enhanced consultation. This structure not only secures our short-term future but brings vital financial backing to begin much-needed improvements at Twerton Park. Our committee recommends members vote to approve the deal.”
The proposed board comprises Mr Stalbow as chairman; Richard Rivlin, a communications expert, as vice chairman; Abdallah Yafi as president; and Ivan Hindshaw as director, both Yafi and Hindshaw being venture capitalists. All have passed the Football Association’s Owners and Directors Test.
Curt Smith, born in Bath and a lifelong football enthusiast, is set to become a club ambassador as part of the investor consortium, bringing both local connection and recognition to the club.