Football club address Robbie Williams takeover rumours

Port Vale FC have denied reports claiming pop star Robbie Williams is preparing a bid to buy the football club.

Williams, 49, was said to be planning a takeover of the League One team, following in the footsteps of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who bought Wrexham FC in 2020 – with the deal completed the year after.

The Angels singer is reported to be a lifelong fan of the Stoke-on-Trent-based team, but his dedication to the side has not gone as far as a leadership bid, the club has said.

“We are aware of the ‘exclusive’ news that appeared in several national news outlets overnight and want to clarify the following: Robbie Williams has not made a bid to purchase Port Vale Football Club and there have been no conversations regarding that happening,” it said in a statement.

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The statement said the club’s current owner, businesswoman Carol Shanahan, is working with Williams “with the intention of anything delivered being in the best interests of Port Vale Football Club,” but the Shanahan family remain “full committed” to their role.

Williams watched Port Vale in action last weekend, where the singer became club president and opened a suite that has been named after him.

The side are currently 20th in League One and lost 1-0 at home to Portsmouth on Saturday.