FFA ratifies Adelaide United sale to investors led by Dutchman Piet van der Pol — president of China’s Qingdao Reds Lions

DUTCHMAN Piet van der Pol — president of China’s Qingdao Reds Lions based in the Shandong province — has led the chase to buy Adelaide United.

Piet van der Pol — president of China’s Qingdao Reds Lions based in Shandong province — has led the chase to buy Adelaide United

• Reds sale to Chinese investors takes major step forward

DUTCHMAN Piet van der Pol — president of China’s Qingdao Reds Lions based in Shandong province — has led the chase to buy Adelaide United.

The sale was concluded and ratified by Football Federation Australia this afternoon.

Van der Pol’s partner at the Chinese club, which is currently in the nation’s fourth-tier soccer league, was named in 2016 as Bruno Marveggio.

Marveggio owned a 25 per cent stake in Adelaide United before the sale.

Van der Pol became director of the new Australian Football Opportunities — a company which has its address and another director listed in Adelaide — on February 26.

Bruno Marveggio owned a 25 per cent stake in Adelaide United before the sale.

The new Adelaide consortium consists predominantly of European businessmen investing in Europe, Asia and Australia, with a company office in Hong Kong.

FFA chairman Steven Lowy and the FFA board perused the documents and discussed whether the consortium met the governing body’s club participation agreement before rubber-stamping the deal.

“FFA has consented to the change in ownership structure of AUFC (Adelaide),’’ said an FFA spokesman.

The finer details of Adelaide United’s current consortium being sold to the investors came together on Wednesday at a 2pm meeting at an unknown location in Adelaide.

Adelaide officials on Wednesday started clearing out some office space at the club’s Hindmarsh headquarters.

The previous Reds consortium, which took ownership of the club in 2010, sold the club for a sum believed to be $12 million which was deposited in the former Adelaide United owner’s bank account.

Robert Gerard

Greg Griffin

One of Adelaide’s former 30 per cent major shareholders, Robert Gerard, said United chairman Greg Griffin was at the helm of the negotiations for the new buyers.

Gerard on Wednesday said he was still on a fishing expedition near Streaky Bay, where he had been since last week.

Dr Richard Noble, who had a 15 per cent share of United, said he had resigned from the board about a month ago and claimed he had not been a party to negotiations.

“It has not been easy in the past eight years,’ he said.

Adelaide captain Isaias said the squad was not affected by talk of the changeover.

With United’s A-League side just five games away from playing in the finals series, Isaias said the squad was still very upbeat.

“Not (worried) at the moment,’’ Isaias said.

“We read a couple of articles about it (the sale) and we’re only worried about the games and what we need to do for the rest of the season.

“It won’t affect us.”

Griffin said on Wednesday night that it was tough handing the club over after pouring his heart and soul into Adelaide since 2010.

Adelaide captain Isaias said the squad was not affected by talk of the changeover.

With United’s A-League side just five games away from playing in the finals series Isaias said the squad was still very upbeat.

Not (worried) at the moment,’’ Isaias said.

“We read a couple of articles about it (the sale) and we’re only worried about the games and what we need to do for the rest of the season.

It won’t affect us.”

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