Express & Star

Walsall co-chairman Ben Boycott views proposed Silkeborg takeover as a sign of "growth" for Trivela

Walsall co-chairman Ben Boycott insists the proposed takeover of Danish Superliga side Silkeborg IF is a sign of Trivela's "growth" rather than detracting focus away from Walsall or Drogheda.

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On Tuesday, Trivela agreed to acquire an 80 per cent take in Silkeborg with the sale subject to the approval of two-thirds majority at a general meeting which is due to take place in mid-December. 

If the deal is approved by the board of shareholders at Silkeborg then they will become the fourth club to operate under the Trivela umbrella alongside Walsall, Drogheda United and the grassroots club Trivela FC based in Togo. 

Boycott confirmed that the initial figure offered to the shareholders of Silkeborg's holding company is in the region of £13million and that he does not expect the potential addition of Silkeborg to affect Walsall or Drogheda. 

Boycott revealed in an interview on the club website: "We want a group of independent, important, well-run football clubs that matter in their local community and at some ways have collaborations and learnings with one another as we've seen with Walsall and Drogheda so far. 

"But we're not kind of pre-scripting or pre-defining all of that. The bottom line is we want to invest in communities by investing in really well run football clubs and hopefully long-term can collaborate with one another and have some shared benefits. 

"If they approve it, which they may or may not, then this fits into that.

"I wouldn't say it affects them at all (Walsall or Drogheda). I would point everybody to, I'm going to call it a bigger pie mentality and a growth mentality. 

"If this is approved, Trivela is getting a little bit bigger and it may be tempting to look at it and say, ok Trivela have this finite set of resources and so that means there is going to be less here and more there. 

"But the bottom line is that we've had some good success, we're growing and this is part of it so I don't think it's taking anything away from Walsall or Drogheda."

The proposed sale has been met with scepticism among the Silkeborg fanbase with over 100 supporters attending a peaceful protest outside the club's JYSK Park stadium on Tuesday evening. 

Boycott addressed those concerns in a press conference in Denmark earlier this week and insists that Trivela are hoping to work alongside Silkeborg and add to the "legacy of excellence" which they've created. 

"The message here in Denmark is very much business as usual and hopefully business as usual with more opportunities in long-term," he continued. 

"We're very impressed by the football club about what they've been able to achieve from a sporting standpoint and what they've been able to achieve from an office and business standpoint. 

"Fortunately, the current CEO, the CFO, sporting director and head coach will continue to be in those roles. 

"So really I'd say is what they can expect from us is that we can come alongside them as partners and carry forward their legacy of excellent and continuous improvement then hopefully over time there's things we can add to that." 

And Boycott also added that there are no immediate plans to add any more clubs to the Trivela portfolio.

"It's possible but I'll be honest and say right now we have no plans. No active conversations or anything like that," he revealed.

"If the shareholders approve us to become a part of this football club in Silkeborg then we'll have plenty to be getting on with.

"If and when we grow further, it'll be for the right reasons and in the right way."