Former FA CEO Mark Palios "has taken ownership" of League Two side Tranmere Rovers along with his wife, Nicola, after the pair "bought out the majority of Peter Johnson’s controlling stake," according to Tony Barrett of the LONDON TIMES.
Palios, a former Tranmere player who made more than 280 appearances for the Wirral-based club in two spells at Prenton Park, "will take on the role of executive chairman with his wife, a commercial lawyer, becoming vice-chairman." Johnson "will remain a shareholder, director and become the club’s honorary president." Johnson: "I have been looking for a safe pair of hands to ensure the club’s future. In Mark and Nicola I have found that. As a local lad who played for the club, and a former chief executive of the FA with a successful commercial track record, Mark is uniquely placed to help lead Tranmere to a bright future. Nicola is an accomplished lawyer and businesswoman" (LONDON TIMES, 8/11). The PA reported Palios "has long been linked with Tranmere." The move "gives a nod to change after 27 years of Johnson being in charge, having bought the club out of administration in 1987." The Rovers "visited Wembley five times during his reign and narrowly lost the 2000 League Cup final to Leicester." Palios: "There is a big job to be done to get the club back in the higher divisions and get the facilities back up to scratch. In the coming weeks and months we will share with you our plans on how we intend to make it happen" (PA, 8/11). The BBC wrote Palios said that "his strong emotional ties with Rovers had led him to take up his new position." He said, "It was not in our plans to join any other football club. It's not a business decision that we're making, it's an emotional decision, but it's one where we hope to bring business principles to the club" (BBC, 8/11). Nicola Palios said, "Peter Johnson has shown incredible generosity to Tranmere over many years, and particularly by writing off his past loans to give a solid financial base for the upcoming season. We aim to reward his loyalty by ensuring the club’s legacy for the future" (WIRRAL GLOBE, 8/11).
