Darryl Eales and Calvin Barnett
Darryl Eales has stepped down as a director at Oxford United to take over National League side Solihull Moors.
The new Moors chairman took over Oxford in 2014 and oversaw two trips to Wembley and promotion into League One with the U’s before selling the club to Thai businessman Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth in February.
Calvin Barnett has also led the takeover with Eales and will bring additional financial management and commercial skills into the club by becoming chief executive. Cheryl Cooper, who has worked alongside Eales for 20 years, has also joined the board.
Mark Fogarty will become Sporting Director after playing a major role in developing Community Moors and more recently the Moors Academy.
As part of the re-organisation, current chairman Trevor Stevens will step down from the Board and take on the role as lifetime President in recognition of the huge contribution he has made and will continue to make.
A statement read: “We believe strongly that this new Board and shareholding structure with new investors will put Moors in a sustainable and stable position for the foreseeable future and will enable the Club to consolidate its recent progress and then move forward towards achieving its ultimate ambition of EFL status, with further development across all aspects of the club, particularly Youth and Community. There are several areas where investment is needed and now the new board will work through these in the coming weeks, months and years ahead.”
Eales said: “I am delighted and privileged to be Chairman of Solihull Moors. I would like to thank Trevor Stevens, Mike Turl, Simon Hawker, Mike Seabrook and many other unsung heroes who have overseen the development of the Club both on the pitch and equally as importantly in the Community.
“It is a club with a wonderful heart and I look forward to working with everyone to build an even stronger base from which we can pursue our aspiration to bring League football to Damson Park.
“I fondly remember watching Moor Green with my Dad when we lived in Robin Hood Lane. I am also delighted my Dad, Mum, my daughters and my brother together with a number of close friends are or will become shareholders.
“Solihull Moors is, at heart, a family and community based Club – albeit with ambition too! I look forward to meeting many of the fans, staff and partners of the club in the near future.”
