American consortium buys Kelty Hearts

Scottish League 1 strugglers Kelty Hearts have been bought by an American consortium led by the former owner of Danish second-tier club Helsingor.

Jordan Gardner, who has also held minority stakes in Swansea City and Dundalk, and his Hearts Football LLC group will acquire 80% of the club, with the remaining 20% owned a company incorporated by the outgoing board of directors.

Kelty, from the former mining town in Fife with a population of 6,000 people, currently sit bottom of League 1, four points behind Cove Rangers having also played a game more.

But, describing it as "a hugely important moment", outgoing chairman George McTrusty, who had been in post since July 2024, told his club website: "The agreement secures the club's future and gives us the platform we need to plan with confidence for the years ahead."

McTrusty added: "The investment allows us to strengthen every area of the club, from the first team to our infrastructure, academy and community work, while crucially protecting the values and identity that make Kelty Hearts what it is.

"Retaining a meaningful local shareholding was essential to us and this partnership ensures the club remains rooted in the community while benefiting from new ideas, ambition and long-term support."

Gardner spent three years as Helsingor chairman, guiding them to promotion to the Danish second tier, before resigning in 2022 to become an investment specialist with London-based football consultancy Twenty First Group.

The expert in multi-club ownership and women's football investment hoped to "build off the incredible success the club has had over the last 10 years".

Having only formed in 1975, Kelty were a junior club until 2017, after which they swiftly rose up the senior ranks and won promotion to Scotland's third tier for the first time five years later.

Gardner described it as "a proud, community-based club with a passionate fanbase" and he was looking forward to working in partnership with Kelty Hearts FC Members Ltd (former board members).

"It's refreshing to see a club run in a sustainable and prudent manner and that's a credit to the outgoing board of directors, the committee, the volunteers, the staff at the club and the supporters," he added.