SAINTS owner Gao Jisheng no longer has control of Lander Sports, according to reports from China.
The club’s majority shareholder is understood to have sold enough shares in Lander Sports to have lost his controlling interest in the real-estate company he founded.
Earlier today, China Sports journalist Mark Dreyer tweeted: Interesting reports in China that #SaintsFC owner Gao Jisheng has lost control of Lander Sports. No immediate or direct impact on the club - as Gao owns it, not the company - and implications for Southampton unclear at this stage.
“Now, optimistic #SaintsFC fans may argue that the transfer of Lander shares gives Gao some extra $$ to splash on the club. However, it looks to me more like he is pulling back from the business, but hard to guess whether that means he'll look to sell club, too.”
Interesting reports in China that #SaintsFC owner Gao Jisheng has lost control of Lander Sports. No immediate or direct impact on the club - as Gao owns it, not the company - and implications for Southampton unclear at this stage.
— Mark Dreyer (@DreyerChina) February 15, 2019
Gao has been at recent Saints matches and met Eastleigh MP and sports minister Mims Davies on Tuesday.
Yesterday I caught up with owner @SouthamptonFC Mr Gao in #Westminster to hear of his plans for club. Positive & productive meeting about its importance to the City & area by remaining focussed on being a thriving, community led, inclusive club strongly connected with its fans⚽️ pic.twitter.com/U3mJ1jWZhB
— MimsDaviesMP (@mimsdavies) February 13, 2019
Gao bought his 80 per cent stake in Saints for £210m from Katharina Liebherr 18 months ago.
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It was originally thought the investment would be sanctioned through Lander Sports, but Gao invested his own money following more than a year of talks.
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