ST NEOTS TOWN owner and chairman Mike Kearns has retired from his roles at the club with his 92 per cent share in the Saints acquired by son Lee.
Kearns junior was already the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier side’s managing director and will now take over as chairman after obtaining his father’s majority stake in the club.
Mike bought the club when they were in the United Counties League and, after significant investment, the Saints earned back-to-back promotions.
They have now solidified themselves as an Evo-Stik Southern Premier outfit and Kearns senior said: “This is something I have been thinking about for some time and with Lee having done such a professional job over the last four years in the day to day running of the football club, coupled with the introduction of the club’s academy and scholarship programmes, I believe it is time for Lee to have total control of the clubs future.
“I hope to support the club from the terraces as and when time permits but will have no further active involvement with the club.
“I would like to thank everyone in helping us to reach our goals, there are just too many to name who have helped achieve our success as a club and I sincerely thank you all.”
New owner Lee added: “It’s testament to the club, its supporters, its potential and its standing within Non-League football that after initially agreeing to help the club for three months, four and a bit years later I’m still here.
“There is, without doubt, a huge amount of work still to be done to ensure the long term stability of the club both from a financial and development point of view however that said we have made great strides in what can only can be described as an extremely volatile industry.
“I would ask that we recognize the contribution the outgoing owner/chairman has made while at the same time embrace and support the next new and exciting chapter in the clubs history.”
