Wood becomes new owner of Aldershot Town

Aldershot Town Football Club director Deane Wood has taken over the role of chairman and owner at the struggling National League club.

A club statement, external has confirmed outgoing chairman Shahid Azeem and fellow director John Leppard have written off their entire loans to the club and are in the process of transferring their shares to Deane at no cost.

Deane's existing loans are also being converted into shares as part of this transition, and both Azeem and Leppard are stepping down as directors.

The statement reads "They (Azeem and Leppard) believe this transition places the club in a strong position for the future and that the change ensures continuity and stability."

Local businessman Wood joined the club board, external as one of three new directors in 2018 and loaned the club what the statement at the time described as a "substantial amount of money".

The club say that Wood's decision comes after an approach from an external consortium which had expressed an interest in taking control of the club.

Azeem and his consortium took over the club in 2013 after the Shots had gone into administration following relegation from the Football League. Azeem's reign as chairman is the longest in the club's history.

Aldershot Town are currently just outside the National League relegation places and recently had to issue a statement, external refuting rumours that they were going into administration again.