Latest news with #JonVarney
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Supermodel Claudia Schiffer's film-maker husband invests in Premier League football club in '£400m deal'- and reveals one regret in doing so
Brentford are taking the next step in their dizzying rise by welcoming the investment of two new parties - including a sprinkle of Hollywood. Supermodel Claudia Schiffer's film-maker husband Sir Matthew Vaughn and philanthropist Gary Lubner have joined the London club as minority shareholders. It comes a day after Sky News reported that majority owner Matthew Benham had clinched a deal to sell stakes worth a total of £400m to new investors. Benham took full control of the Bees in 2012 when they were in League One and has overseen their rise to the top half of the Premier League. Schiffer, who holds more covers than any model in history, married Vaughn in 2002, the year after they had met at a Los Angeles dinner party. They now have three kids together. Vaughn is a co-creator of the Kingsman franchise, directed X-Men: First Class, and was director and producer of 2024 film Argylle among other achievements. Brentford will take their fresh cash into the new season with optimism after finishing 10th in the Premier League last term. They have lost manager long-serving Thomas Frank to Tottenham but appointed Keith Andrews, their former set-piece coach, in his place. Their next steps will involve Jordan Henderson, who has signed on a two-year deal, though they have sold captain Christian Norgaard to Arsenal for £15million and could yet offload Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United for north of £60m. On their new investors, chief executive Jon Varney said: 'This is an exciting time for Brentford. The club has enjoyed significant success in recent years, and this investment will build on that progress to help us continue to challenge in both on-pitch performance and off-pitch commercial growth. 'It is vital to us that any new investors understand and reflect the values of our club. Since we first met Gary and Matthew, we have been aligned on how they can make a positive impact. They bring different but complementary expertise, and I am excited to see what we can collectively achieve. Vaughn admitted he regretted not investing in Brentford sooner: 'My journey with Brentford began 25 years ago when an actor suggested it would be a 'great club to invest in' and I've followed their progress ever since with well-earned respect. 'Some years later, an agent made the same suggestion and so I went to a game, and it was the most unique, intimate, and yet epic match I had ever been to. 'As he showed me around the stadium and introduced me to the brilliant owner and exceptional management team, all I could hear was the voice of the actor who first told me about the club echoing in my head, saying "You should have listened to me, it would have been much cheaper 25 years ago!"' Lubner, founder of This Day Foundation and former chief executive of Belron, added: 'Brentford stands for more than just football. Its commitment to community, integrity and social progress reflects the values I care deeply about. 'I'm proud to support a club where success on the pitch goes hand in hand with meaningful impact off it - especially through the incredible work of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, which changes lives every day across west London.' Vaughn and Lubner have invested in Brentford's holding company Best Intentions Analytics (BIA).
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Why Kelleher joined Brentford
New Brentford arrival Caoimhin Kelleher has spoken about the importance of the "impressive" vision pitched to him by the club's hierarchy in helping him decide to 26-year-old met head coach Thomas Frank, sporting director Phil Giles, and chief executive Jon Varney, among others, and was pleased with the plan they had in place for him."I just really like the whole club," Kelleher said in his first interview with the Bees' club media."I like the way the manager, the staff, go about their ways. It seems like a really close, tight-knit, family club and they have a really good track record of developing players and improving players, which has really drawn me to the club."Last week, I went down to meet the manager, some of the coaches, sporting director and CEO and they spoke to me about why they wanted to sign me and showed me around the training ground. I was pretty happy with that and was excited to join once I met them."It was really positive. It was interesting to see their point of view, hear why they want to sign me and what they think they can do with me to develop my game. It was impressive. I think the club is a really good fit for a first message to Brentford fans, he added: "I'm delighted to be here, I can't wait to get started, and I think they're getting a really good goalkeeper."
New York Times
04-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Arsenal to announce ticket price rise for next season despite Premier League rivals freezing prices
Arsenal are set to increase their ticket prices by an approximate average of 3.7% for the 2025/26 season, despite some of their Premier League rivals opting to freeze their prices. The north London side confirmed that the decision to raise prices was made after extensive supporter engagement. The club will protect concessions following the Football Supporters Association (FSA) writing to the Premier League in February calling on the organisation to support calls for price freezes across the division ahead of the 2025/26 season. Advertisement A number of factors were cited regarding the rise, including the considerable increase in player wages last season as well as the introduction of a 19-game season ticket which will see supporters paying up to £386 less a season than they had previously. There will also be 1000 tickets made available free of charge throughout the season in accordance with the club celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Arsenal in the Community scheme. Nevertheless, Arsenal fans will be disappointed to see ticket prices rise shortly after the club posted financial results in which they received record revenues. Liverpool fan groups wrote an open letter to the club warning that rising ticket prices run the risk of 'killing the Kop'. This subsequently led to the club announcing in February that they would be freezing general admission and season ticket prices for the 2025/26 season after holding discussions with its official Supporters Board. Brentford announced in November 2024 that the club's season ticket prices will remain frozen for the 2025/26 season. The news was revealed by chief executive Jon Varney at fans' forum, held at the Gtech Community Stadium. West Ham United also announced a freezing of ticket prices for the upcoming season in February. The London club announced the price freeze in addition to a commitment to offer concessionary pricing in more areas of their London stadium. The Newcastle United Supporters' Trust (NUST) called on the club to freeze ticket prices and 'recognise the financial strain many fans are facing'. NUST wrote to Darren Eales, Newcastle's chief executive, to express its 'concern' at suggestions price rises are on the way at a time when the cost of living is already high. In January, Manchester United supporters called on the club to freeze ticket prices and 'end the war on season ticket holders' in an open letter to Sir Jim Ratcliffe. In November 2024, Liverpool, Everton, Man United and Manchester City supporters joined forces to protest against rising Premier League ticket prices. GO DEEPER Arteta wants Arsenal to dominate opponents - but is that coming at an attacking cost? (Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
