The proprietors of Bournemouth, Black Knight Football Club, are poised to expand into rugby union by acquiring Gallagher Premiership team Exeter Chiefs, sources have informed ESPN.
This initiative is subject to a vote by Exeter’s members during an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for May.
Black Knight’s holdings already encompass Bournemouth, which they purchased in 2022, as well as Auckland FC, in addition to shares in Scotland’s Hibernian and France’s FC Lorient.
The consortium of Black Knight Football Club features Oscar-winning actor Michael B. Jordan and is led by American businessman Bill Foley.
The anticipated acquisition follows a wave of new investment in the English domestic game, coinciding with the cessation of relegation and the introduction of a franchise-based structure.
British entrepreneur Sir James Dyson has invested in Bath, while Red Bull took control of Newcastle earlier this season. Northampton has also seen new investment, with other clubs expected to follow suit.
This transaction would signify a new chapter for Exeter, which has been financially supported by Tony Rowe. Under his leadership, the team achieved significant success, earning promotion to the top tier in 2010, winning the Premiership title in 2017 and 2020, and claiming the Champions Cup in 2020. However, Rowe has previously acknowledged that it is an appropriate time for external investment.
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“I’ve effectively run a business for the last 30-odd years for a shareholder who’s got no money,” Rowe stated to The Guardian.
“What I’m looking forward to is an investor who’s got some money. That’ll be a massive difference for me.
“I think it will put us in a really good place to take advantage of the future. Whether you like it or not, professional sport is all about money. We need money to survive.”
