Latest news with #LarneFC
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'New era' for Larne as Bruce sells stake
Larne have confirmed that Kenny Bruce has sold his 50% stake in the Irish Premiership club. Bruce, the co-founder of an online estate agency, took over the then-Championship club in September 2017. Since then, Larne were promoted to the Premiership and won the club's first two top-flight titles in 2023 and 2024 before a run to the Uefa Conference League league phase last season. Advertisement In a statement on Wednesday, the Inver Park club said Redball Global FC's Nick Giannotti and Eric Perez, who are described as "two seasoned executives with deep experience in international football and sports business", have acquired Bruce's stake. American firm Redball are also involved with English Football League club Plymouth Argyle and League of Ireland side Athlone Town. "I have always said that when it came time to hand over my shareholding in the club it would be to people who could give Larne FC a competitive edge moving forward and I am firmly of the belief this is the case," said Bruce, native of the East Antrim town and lifelong fan of the club. "Since the moment our conversations began, both Nick and Eric have been an absolute pleasure to work with throughout the due diligence and legal process. Advertisement "Neither are strangers to football in this part of the world and I am confident they will bring immense value to Larne FC in the years ahead, with their drive and professional experience." More change at Larne In September 2023, an American business consortium bought a minority share in Larne, before the Veeck family - who previously owned Major League Baseball sides St. Louis Browns and Chicago White Sox - made a minority investment three months later. "We want to thank Kenny for all of his dedication to Larne. The club is in a strong position because of him, and his investments in infrastructure," said Giannotti. Advertisement "It's very exciting to join a club with a great community, a great ground, great partners, and more. Together I expect glorious days ahead." Bruce's departure marks the latest change for Larne. In November, Tiernan Lynch ended his seven-year reign as head coach to join Derry City. Lynch was soon replaced by Nathan Rooney. However, just three weeks into his tenure, the Englishman moved into the club's head of football role after it emerged he was unable to lead the team in their Uefa Conference League campaign as he did not hold the required licence. Gary Haveron assumed head coaching duties for the remainder of the 2024-25 season before Rooney was reinstalled as manager in May following his enrolment on a Uefa Pro Licence course. Advertisement In March, chief executive Niall Curneen left his role to take up a new role outside of the club, while last month general manager Shay Kennedy departed to become head of business operations for the Northern Ireland Football League [NIFL].
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'New era' for Larne as Bruce sells stake
Larne have confirmed that owner Kenny Bruce has sold his 50% stake in the Irish Premiership the co-founder of an online estate agency, took over the then-Championship club in September 2017. Since then, Larne were promoted to the Premiership and won the club's first two top-flight titles in 2023 and 2024 before a run to the Uefa Conference League league phase last season. In a statement on Wednesday, the Inver Park club said Redball Global FC's Nick Giannotti and Eric Perez, who are described as "two seasoned executives with deep experience in international football and sports business", have acquired Bruce's said Giannotti and Perez's involvement "signals a new era" for Larne. Redball are also involved with English Football League club Plymouth Argyle and League of Ireland side Athlone Town. "I have always said that when it came time to hand over my shareholding in the club it would be to people who could give Larne FC a competitive edge moving forward and I am firmly of the belief this is the case," said Bruce. "Since the moment our conversations began, both Nick and Eric have been an absolute pleasure to work with throughout the due diligence and legal process."Neither are strangers to football in this part of the world and I am confident they will bring immense value to Larne FC in the years ahead, with their drive and professional experience."In September 2023, an American business consortium bought a minority share in Larne, before the Veeck family - who previously owned Major League Baseball sides St. Louis Browns and Chicago White Sox - made a minority investment three months later."We want to thank Kenny for all of his dedication to Larne. The club is in a strong position because of him, and his investments in infrastructure," said Giannotti."It's very exciting to join a club with a great community, a great ground, great partners, and more. Together I expect glorious days ahead."
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Larne sign Gibraltarian international midfielder Bent
Larne have completed the signing of Gibraltarian international midfielder Dan 29-year-old joins the Irish Premiership club following his departure from Lincoln Red Imps earlier in the summer, having earned a league title in his first season with the grown up in England, Bent began his career at Gillingham before a move to the United States saw him involved with a number of clubs including Columbus arrived in Gibraltar in 2019 with Bruno's Magpies, working under now Larne boss Nathan Rooney for four years and then moving to Lincoln Red was involved home and away in last summer's Conference League play-off against the spent five years in Gibraltar, Dan qualified for the national team and has now accumulated nine appearances, scoring two goals."I think first and foremost Dan will fit in really well with the group, personality wise," explained Rooney."He is the sort of player who understands that hard work comes first and that gives you the foundation to show what you're about tactically and technically after that."In the team he will give us a different type of dynamic as someone who can run beyond."Having been here since November I feel I know what the fans want to see, which is someone who sets the tone in outworking the opposition and then gets people off their seats and in Dan I feel we have that."
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Larne sign defender Ridley as Want departs
Larne have signed defender Matthew Ridley after the departure of Scottish centre-back Shaun Ridley becomes Nathan Rooney's first summer signing as he arrives from Northern Premier League side Blyth Spartans, a club he captained last 25-year-old has also had spells with Billingham Town, Chester-Le-Street Town, Whitby Town and League Two side Sutton United."I'm really pleased to bring Matt to the club. He'll add nicely to our defensive options, making this part of the squad a really competitive unit," Rooney told Larne's website."His energy and passion for the game is something I have been aware of for a while and I am looking forward to working closely with Matt on his next stage of his career."Ridley will replace Want, who leaves the club upon the expiration of his contract, returning to Scotland for family 28-year-old was a mainstay for the side after arriving from Hamilton Academical three years made 104 appearances for Larne, winning two Gibson Cups, two County Antrim Shields and helping them to qualify for the league phase of the Uefa Conference League for the first time."The club respects Shaun's decision to put family first and wishes him the best of luck at his next club," said the club in a post on Omar, Joe Besant, Sean Brown, Olatunde Bayode and Harrison Panayiotou have also left the Inver outfit upon the expiration of their contracts.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rooney reinstalled as Larne manager
Larne have reinstalled Nathan Rooney as manager following the Englishman's enrolment on his Uefa Pro Licence course. In December, just three weeks on from succeeding Tiernan Lynch in the Inver Park dugout, Rooney moved into the club's head of football role after it emerged he was unable to lead Larne in their Uefa Conference League campaign as he did not hold the required licence. With Rooney having been accepted on to his Pro Licence course in March, he returns to his original position. Gary Haveron, who took over head coaching duties for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, returns to his role as Rooney's assistant. "It has been a period of change for us all, including our amazing fanbase, who has continued to bring the noise and energy to every matchday since my arrival," said Rooney. "I appreciate all of you and it's our job as a group to continue working hard to achieve new goals whilst working smartly through both the smooth and difficult times. "I want to express my thanks to Gary Haveron who has been a great professional to work alongside and his work ethic to keep pushing the team has been second to none – I thank him for his support throughout this period." Rooney, who was brought in from Gibraltar side Bruno's Magpies, added: "Gary will continue to play a major role as an experienced professional who is highly thought of in the local area and the Irish Premiership. "Our job now is to hit the ground running in pre-season, develop our younger players, implement a playing style which can be exciting to watch and provide an energy which brings us all together on and off the pitch and we will see where it takes us." Larne chairman Gareth Clements said the past few months have "allowed Nathan to do a lot of the groundwork across the whole club and we're now looking forward to having him lead all aspects of our senior men's team". "We are very excited to see how Nathan will shape the playing squad as pre-season preparations get underway in the coming weeks," added Clements. "On behalf of everyone at the club, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Gary Haveron for how he stepped up to lead first team affairs since the middle of December. "Clinching automatic European qualification at the end of a 60-game season, with all the demands placed on the team this season domestically and in Europe, was a huge achievement." Larne finished second in the Irish Premiership, 22 points behind champions Linfield, and were knocked out of the Irish Cup fifth round by Limavady United.
