A CONSORTIUM led by ex-chairperson Paula Henley has taken over Wimborne Town – with former Tottenham and QPR boss Harry Redknapp set to join the new board of directors.
The Evo-Stik League Southern Division One South & West club had been searching for new investors and Henley has returned to take control of the Magpies.
And she has drafted in the experienced manager, who has also bossed Bournemouth, West Ham, Portsmouth and Southampton, in what will be seen as a big coup for the club.
After leaving her role at Wimborne last February, Henley went on to manage Moordown U8s with Redknapp's grandson Bobbie playing in the side.
Henley used the opportunity to get in touch with Redknapp, already a club patron at Wimborne, who will join the new board of directors at Cuthbury alongside former chairman Paul Miller.
A club statement read: “Over the past few months the board of Wimborne Town FC have been looking for someone who is prepared to invest in the club.
“We are pleased to announce today that agreement has been reached with a consortium led by ex-chairperson Paula Henley to take over the running of Wimborne Town. Paula has been invited to re-join the board as chairperson with immediate effect and she has accepted.
“The current board will be offering to stand down immediately but, for ease of transition to the new management, will continue to fulfil their roles for as long as Paula wishes. We feel that we have taken Wimborne Town as far as we can.
“We have always said that we would be prepared, in the best interests of the club, to stand aside if someone else wanted to take on the challenge of continuing to keep Wimborne Town one of the premier Non-League clubs in the area. We give Paula and her consortium our best wishes for taking our great club forward.
“Paula has said that one of her first actions will be to organise a supporters' forum to explain her thoughts for the club in more detail.”
