Carrick Rangers legend Jimmy Brown has welcomed the investment from American Michael Smith
Carrick Rangers great Jimmy Brown says the club’s new ownership structure is an Irish League financial fairytale.
The Belfast Telegraph revealed on Tuesday that American businessman Michael Smith has bought a majority share in the club.
Smith, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Estée Lauder Companies Inc, had been in consultation with Carrick chairman Peter Clarke for many months about investing in the east Antrim outfit.
The deal now confirmed by the club will see Smith provide Carrick with marketing expertise and a strategy aimed at increasing revenue streams in the future.
Brown was a 25-year-old player-manager for Carrick in 1976 when the then B Division side stunned Linfield 2-1 in the Final of the Irish Cup.
The former Newry, Cliftonville, Ballyclare, Glenavon and PSNI boss is now thrilled to learn of this stunning development for the Gers who were formed in 1939 and for most of their history have played outside the top flight.
“I think the news about Carrick is fantastic,” said Brown who was Roy Coyle’s number two at Ards and Glentoran.
“Michael Smith is clearly a wealthy businessman keen to invest in the club. These things need to be handled properly but it’s a partnership that is potentially big for Carrick Rangers.
“It’s a world away from my days and it has a rags to riches feel to it. You can see why Carrick are welcoming investment.
“There’s big money in football now, with clubs going full-time to chase the European prize money. It would not surprise me if other clubs consider new ownership models, particularly if it makes their clubs healthier.”
The deal with Smith, who was previously in high level positions at
Read on belfasttelegraph.co.uk