Cheltenham Town’s principal shareholders have signed a letter of intent, entering an exclusive negotiation period with Mike Garlick, the former chairman of Burnley Football Club and current owner of Antequera FC in Spain and St Joseph’s FC in Gibraltar.
Garlick is renowned for guiding Burnley through two promotions to the Premier League and achieving a remarkable seventh-place finish in the 2017/18 season. Under his leadership, Burnley maintained consistent financial profitability and qualified for European competition.
The Gloucestershire-based League Two club, known as the Robins and founded in 1887, sees this potential partnership as a pivotal moment for the club’s future. They play at Whaddon Road and compete in the fourth tier of English football.
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A club statement on Saturday confirmed the agreement, emphasizing its significance in stabilizing Cheltenham Town’s long-term prospects:
“The Board of Directors of Cheltenham Town Football Club is pleased to announce that its principal shareholders have signed a letter of intent including a period of exclusivity with Mike Garlick, owner of Spanish club Antequera FC and Gibraltar club St Joseph’s.”
Garlick’s football career spans almost two decades, beginning in 2006 as a director, then chairman, and majority shareholder at Burnley. His tenure saw Burnley secure two Premier League promotions and retain a Premier League spot for six of seven seasons, alongside their European qualification.
Beyond Burnley, Mike owns Gibraltar’s St Joseph’s FC, which has consistently qualified for the Europa Conference League and finished as league runners-up twice since his acquisition in 2022. His Spanish club, FC Antequera, competes in Spain’s third division and recently reached La Liga 2 playoffs in his first year of ownership.
Garlick has held influential roles off the pitch, including serving on the Premier League audit and remuneration board and contributing to senior executive appointments between 2018 and 2021.
Before football, Garlick built an international IT consultancy, Michael Bailey Associates, which he floated on Nasdaq Europe, drawing on his technology and management degree from the University of Bradford. He currently resides in Hertfordshire with his wife and two children.
Cheltenham Town Chairman David Bloxham expressed optimism: “The Board and principal shareholders have worked tirelessly over the last nine months to find the right investor who can secure the financial future of the club whilst maintaining its identity and community values. We are delighted to enter into a period of exclusivity with Mike Garlick and believe his interest in the club heralds an exciting future for the club and its fans.”
No further announcements are expected at this time.