Southampton's ownership group has expanded its international reach by acquiring a controlling stake in a Maltese football club. Chairman Dragan Solak has taken a 65 per cent shareholding in Zabbar St Patrick, a 114-year-old club in Malta's top flight, bringing it into the Sport Republic portfolio. The announcement arrives with Southampton eighth in the Championship, having taken 17 points from their opening 11 games with a record of six wins, three draws and two losses.
Sport Republic, the investment vehicle that bought Southampton in January 2022, now holds controlling interests in clubs in England, Turkey, France and Malta. The group also has a minority share in Malian side FC Mali Coura. Solak stated the move was part of a strategy to build a sustainable multi-club platform.
"My family grew really fond of and is proud of Malta," Solak said. "We were looking at a project that could get us closer to the people of Malta." He also thanked the Maltese football authorities for helping to change regulations to allow clubs to become companies, enabling the investment.
Gagliardi takes technical role
As part of the integration, former Sport Republic head of business development Roberto Gagliardi has been appointed technical director at Zabbar St Patrick. Gagliardi, who previously served as head of recruitment at Turkish club Goztepe, will also remain a senior consultant there. The agreement follows a vote by Zabbar's members to establish a new company structure for its football operations, a prerequisite for the deal.
Solak emphasised the group's focus on long-term, sustainable growth, aiming to replicate the model being developed at French club Valenciennes and, at Southampton. Players have already moved between Zabbar and Goztepe, illustrating the intended synergy within the network.
The news comes as Southampton, sitting eighth in the Championship with 17 points from 11 games, prepare for a tough away fixture. Russell Martin's side, who drew 0-0 with Bolton last time out, face second-placed West Ham on Saturday 24 October. The Saints' recent form of three wins, one draw and one loss shows a team finding its footing as the ownership landscape evolves. That sequence includes a 1-0 win at Norwich on Wednesday 14 October, where Kuryu Matsuki scored the decisive goal, and a 1-0 home win over Portsmouth. The side has scored 21 goals this season while conceding only 10, leaving them six points behind league leaders Swansea. Top scorer C. Larin has contributed seven of those goals in 11 appearances.
This story first appeared at dailyecho.co.uk
