Former Brighton & Hove Albion Chairman Offers Shares to Supporters

Dick Knight, the former Brighton & Hove Albion chairman has offered his shares in the Championship club to supporters.

Knight was replaced in 2009 by Tony Bloom, who financed the construction of the Amex Stadium and he has now offered his share to those he feels should “have a voice in the club.”

In a unique way of selling the shares, Knight is offering them to any supporter who buys his autobiography “Mad Man” as rules state he cannot give the shares away for free.

Speaking to BBC Sussex, Knight said: “I feel the fans should always have a voice in the club.

“Tony now has 90% and that is fine – everyone is very confident in him. We need to maintain the tradition of this club of the fans’ voices being heard.”

Knight became chairman of the Seagulls in 1997 at a time when the club were on the verge of being liquidated.

He added: “It was the fans who actually saved the club. I’d like my final legacy to the club to make sure the fans always have a voice at the annual general meeting. You only need to have one share to be allowed to go to the AGM.

“If they have any concerns about the way the club is being run they can voice them then.

“It is really an objective to ensure we maintain the traditions that future directors listen to the fans.

“Directors of football clubs should be indebted to the fans, not the other way around. Our board need to remember what our traditions are.”