{"id":585893,"date":"2021-03-07T00:00:40","date_gmt":"2021-03-07T05:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=585893"},"modified":"2021-03-06T18:05:42","modified_gmt":"2021-03-06T23:05:42","slug":"brett-johnson-possible-ipswich-town-takeover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/03\/07\/brett-johnson-possible-ipswich-town-takeover\/","title":{"rendered":"Brett Johnson: The Man Behind Possible Ipswich Town Takeover"},"content":{"rendered":"

After almost many years of Marcus Evans ownership, Ipswich Town<\/a> are subject to a reported takeover attempt by an American consortium. But who is Brett Johnson, the man supposedly behind the US investment group looking to buy Ipswich Town?<\/p>\n

Brett Johnson: Who Is the American Businessman Looking to Buy Ipswich Town?<\/h2>\n

US Investment Group Interested in Ending Marcus Evans Tenure at Ipswich Town<\/h3>\n

Ipswich Town are subject to rumours of a takeover by an American investment group, according to The Athletic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The current owner, Marcus Evans, has owned the club ever since 2007 but reduced investment, rising debts and a lower football pyramid position means the businessman is reportedly close to a sale.<\/p>\n

On March 3, Evans released a statement saying:<\/a> “I have said for the last few years that, as new football investors with potentially greater investment pain thresholds than me appear on the scene, if I feel someone is in a better position than me to carry the Club forward with sustained investment, I will step aside.<\/p>\n

“If I have concerns having had unique access to look behind the mask of interested parties, I won\u2019t sell, end of.”<\/p>\n

The Athletic, however, with their roots originally in the United States, claim that a US investment group, led by Brett Johnson, could complete the purchase soon.<\/p>\n

Johnson, a former Brown University (History) and Harvard Business School graduate has an extensive portfolio of business experience.<\/p>\n

He founded the real estate company Fortuitous Partners in November 2018. The company aims to “invest in professional sports anchored real estate development”.<\/p>\n

The businessman’s other major interest is with Benevolent Capital – where he is CEO. They describe themselves as an “alternative investment firm” which is involved in helping to “build long-term value” for companies.<\/p>\n

What Knowledge of Football Does Brett Johnson Have?<\/h3>\n

The majority of his past interests feature in manufacturing and investment. Johnson, a 51-year-old Chelsea supporter, has links to football having been associated with Arizona-based side Phoenix Rising.<\/p>\n

Since first becoming involved with the US soccer team in 2015, they have gone on to win two Western Conference Championships (2018 and 2020) as well as a Regular Season Title in 2019. The American club is owned by Chelsea legend Didier Drogba whilst Johnson is co-chairman.<\/p>\n

Frank Yallop, who made over 300 appearances for Ipswich Town, was appointed manager at Phoenix shortly after Johnson’s arrival.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month a transfer of ownership for Phoenix Rising’s USL League One team, FC Tucson, to Benevolent Sports Tucson – a subsidiary of Johnson’s private equity firm Benevolent Capital.<\/p>\n

Owain Evans, a journalist covering Phoenix Rising, said Mr Johnson’s involvement with the US team means it is “unrecognisable now to how it was”.<\/p>\n

He told Last Word on Football: “In his first season at the helm, the club was known as Arizona United and had never qualified for the playoffs. They trained in a public park, using a nearby apartment as their changing room. They played games in a baseball stadium in front of crowds of less than 1500.<\/p>\n

“Fast forward to now and you have a perennial title contender because the board has invested in the playing staff. Crowds have soared, with most games at Casino Arizona Field being sellouts and the average up over 6500.<\/p>\n

“In that first year, you’d be forgiven for worrying that professional football in Phoenix was on the way out. Now, under the ownership group with Johnson, [Berke] Bakay and others, you have one of the biggest teams in the second tier.”<\/p>\n

The club has ambitions of competing in the MLS in the near future with a new stadium and training facility in construction ahead of the new season.<\/p>\n

Phoenix Rising also have a partnership with the Turkish side Galatasary as a result of Phoenix governor Berke Bakay’s Turkish background and support of the Super Lig team. Away from the US and Turkey, Mr Johnson is a director of Danish First Division team FC Helsingor.<\/p>\n

In July 2020 the company Gamechanger 20 Ltd was registered on Companies House; Brett Johnson is one of four persons with significant control. Michael O’Leary, the former West Brom Chief Executive, Berke Bakay and Mark Detmer are the others involved alongside Mr Johnson.<\/p>\n

According to TWTD<\/a>, Gamechanger 20 Ltd has made priority Land Registry searches relating to the purchase of Ipswich Town’s Playford Road training base.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>