Charlton takeover brings in third owner of their troubled season | Charlton Athletic

Charlton Athletic have been taken over by a consortium led by the Manchester-based businessman Paul Elliott, who becomes the owner and chairman.

East Street Investments, which owned the Championship club, has been taken over by a consortium led by Elliott, who started his career in property before investing in the hospitality trade.

ESI took over in January but the majority shareholder, Tahnoon Nimer, and executive chairman, Matt Southall, had a public falling out. Nimer and Southall have left the club.

Elliott, who was born in Hammersmith, said he was determined to bring stability after a tumultuous period, including the the tenure of the unpopular Roland Duchâtelet, who owns the stadium and training ground.

Elliott said he wanted “a unified boardroom and a unified football club” and added: “This club has passionate fans and we will need every bit of that passion, together with determination and hard work of everyone at the club as we restart this season. Our immediate focus will be on getting behind the team and the manager and giving ourselves the best opportunity of staying in the Championship.”

Relegation-threatened Charlton, who resume the season at Hull on 20 June, said they would meet the EFL to begin the process of finalising changing of control, including “matters relating to the owners’ and directors’ test”. Several parties previously expressed an interest in taking charge, including the former Swansea chairman, Huw Jenkins.