Brentford FC Reveals Key Changes to Ownership Structure

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Image Credit: Brentford FC website

Brentford FC and Bees United, the club’s official supporters trust, have announced a major overhaul to their ownership structure.

This upgrade strives to ensure that Bees United keeps its core rights and oversight while also restructuring governance.

New Holding Company and Protective Rights Deed

Brentford FC owner Matthew Benham will transfer his shares to a newly formed holding company, awaiting Premier League approval.

As part of this transition, a legally binding Protective Rights Deed will replace the Special Share currently held by Bees United.

This deed will secure Bees United’s ability to veto any proposed sale of the stadium and maintain a fan representative on the club’s board – safeguards unique among Premier League clubs.

Ensuring Long-Term Stability and Growth

If Benham’s ownership stake falls below 75 percent, any subsequent owners must uphold this deed, ensuring Bees United’s rights are protected.

The holding company structure increases the club’s flexibility, preparing it for long-term expansion, investment opportunities, and future Premier League success.

As a result, this will enable a more efficient financial and legal process, ensuring the club’s stability in the future while taking into account Benham’s family interests.

Benham and Club Leadership Reaffirm Commitment

Matthew Benham reiterated his unwavering dedication to Brentford FC, its fans, and its legacy.

To ensure it remains a source of pride for supporters, Benham clarified that he made these adjustments with the club’s long-term prosperity in mind.

Brentford FC Chair Cliff Crown highlighted the significance of this transition for the club.

“This transition strengthens the club’s ability to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the Premier League and beyond.

“It will allow Brentford FC to grow responsibly, remain competitive at the highest level, and ensure that Bees United’s role as a guardian of the club’s future remains secure for generations to come,” he said via press release.

Bees United Chair Stuart Hatcher reaffirmed the supporters’ trust’s commitment to protecting the club’s values.

“We recognise everything Matthew has done for the club and, having determined that Bees United’s rights remain intact and that the right safeguards remain in place for the club and the fans, we were happy to support his request,” he said via press release.

A New Chapter for Brentford FC

These changes mark a new chapter for Brentford FC that builds on the club’s journey and, importantly, ensures that the voices of the fans remain at the heart of its future.

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IMG takes commercial lead on inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup

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Image Credit: Vietnam Football Federation

IMG has been appointed to lead the global commercialisation of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, giving the new Southeast Asian national-team competition an established international sports business partner ahead of its first edition.

Under the strategic partnership, IMG will manage worldwide media and sponsorship rights sales while also overseeing broadcast production for the tournament, which takes place from 24 September to 5 October across Indonesia and Hong Kong, China.

The inaugural competition will feature 14 national teams, including all 11 ASEAN members alongside guest nations, with matches split between two divisions. Division 2 fixtures will be played in Jakarta and Badung, while Division 2 matches will be played in Hong Kong.

The agency’s role will include selling sponsorship and media inventory internationally while helping establish the broadcast infrastructure required to present the tournament to audiences outside Southeast Asia.

The partnership builds on IMG’s existing strategic relationship with PT Garuda Sepak Bola Indonesia, which has been working with the Football Association of Indonesia since 2025 on areas including commercial strategy, media rights, production and digital development.

For FIFA, the tournament creates another international football property in a region with a large and increasingly connected football audience.

For IMG, it adds another major regional property to a football portfolio that already includes competitions and organisations across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

The immediate challenge will be turning the inaugural tournament into a sustainable commercial property capable of attracting broadcasters and sponsors beyond its first edition.

If successful, the FIFA ASEAN Cup could provide Southeast Asian national teams with a recurring commercial platform while giving IMG another foothold in one of football’s developing markets.

GIS Sydney continues to connect students with Australia’s sports industry

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Image Credits: Global Institute of Sport

Following the launch of its Sydney campus in 2025, the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) is continuing to establish itself in the nation’s sports industry. A leading provider of degrees and executive education in sport, GIS provides students the chance to study at two of Australia’s biggest sporting venues: Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Programs such as Sports Analytics and International Sports Business are delivered in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, and feature the chance for students to gain exclusive access to the sports industry.

More than 50 guest speakers have shared their experience with students studying at GIS Sydney, representing organisations like FIFA, Red Bull, Cricket Australia, and the AFL. While learning about the regional and national sports industry in the classroom, students have also had the chance to gain an international perspective through GIS’ signature Global Sports Summits, which have given Sydney students access to iconic sporting venues around the world from London to Miami.

Outside of the iconic venues students can call their classrooms, the organisation prioritises the real, industry placements needed to put theory into practice by providing each student with 140 hours of relevant work experience throughout their studies. Included in this are several sporting organisations who are keen to welcome GIS students on board, including the Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA), Football Coaches Australia, and Basketball NSW.

GIS also has a partnership with popular network and app Yakka Sport to connect students with paid employment opportunities while they study.

Behind these advancements at the GIS Sydney campus is an Industry Advisory Board which features a host of experienced figures from the world of sport. Included in the Asia-Pacific branch is Chair James Rosengarten, GM of the Melbourne Renegades; Kevin Jang, Managing Director of CAA Stellar Korea; and Brad Lloyd, GM of the Carlton Football Club.

Since launching, GIS’ Sydney campus has ultimately combined its locations and industry connections to provide the next generation of sports professionals with the knowledge, network, and confidence to tackle the rapidly evolving sports industry.

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