Brad Friedel’s US consortium gets Scottish FA clearance for Shrewsbury bid

Shrewsbury Town’s proposed takeover by a US consortium has cleared another major hurdle after the Scottish Football Association granted approval for the group to hold controlling interests in both Spartans FC and League Two side Salop.

The American group—led by Scott Davidson and including Will Dotson, Craig Graham and former Liverpool, Tottenham and Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel—had already passed the English Football League due diligence and the Independent Football Regulator’s financial tests. The new ruling also removes regulatory concerns linked to Davidson’s existing majority-shareholder role at the Scottish League Two club where Dotson and Graham are involved.

Spartans said in a statement that the Scottish FA’s approval covers the dual interests created by the acquisition of Shrewsbury Town FC and the appointment of Scott, Will Dotson and Craig Graham as directors at both clubs. The deal has been in motion for six months, with hopes of completion before Christmas, while Shrewsbury chairman Roland Wycherley previously warned that “time and patience” would still be needed after a change of ownership.