Partick Thistle have today revealed that lottery winners Colin and Christine Weir are among three new shareholders in the Maryhill club whose investment enabled the Jags to secure a deal with Bank of Scotland to become debt free last month. Thistle Board Director Billy Allan joins the Weirs, who became the UK's biggest-ever jackpot winners when they scooped £161million in 2011, as shareholders for the first time.
The Weir’s investment means that each will hold 5% in the club and they have gifted a further 19.28% of shares to the newly established Partick Thistle Football Club Trust.
Billy Allan’s shareholding is almost 3%.
Partick Thistle chairman, David Beattie, said: “First and foremost, I would like to thank each of our new investors on behalf of the club and all of its supporters. Their investment has allowed us to secure the financial stability we promised fans at the start of the season.
“At the time of the debt announcement, I spoke about how the new investors were 'Thistle people' and I really can’t think of three individuals to whom this tag could be more appropriate. As genuine Partick Thistle fans, they have allowed us to start a new chapter in the history of the club, which I hope will allow us to move on and establish ourselves fully as a Premiership staple for many seasons to come.”
Colin Weir, who along with wife Christine previously donated £750,000 to the club for the formation of the Thistle Weir Youth Academy, said: “I have been a Jags fan since I was a boy and have spent many hours at Firhill, some of them more enjoyable than others!
“Chris and I are delighted to be part of the collective effort to help the club achieve financial security, no mean feat for any club in Scotland today. We also support the establishment of the Trust to give fans a greater say in their club and were pleased to be in a position to gift shares to it to get it off the ground.”
Billy Allan has been on the Jags board since 2009 but, until now, has not been a shareholder.
Commenting on his investment, he said: “With the chance for the club to become debt free if new investment was secured, I was happy to step up and do that. As a result of all the new investment, the club is in the strongest financial position it’s been in for many years and that’s great news for all concerned.”
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