Raj Singh (businessman)


Raj Singh (businessman)


Raj Singh (born 17 October 1964) is an Indian businessman based in England's Tees Valley. He is the owner of the Prestige Group and of National League football club Hartlepool United.

Care homes

Indian-born Singh is owner of the Stockton-based Prestige Group. His business interests include some residential care homes, a construction company and investment properties across the UK.

Football

Singh became vice-chairman of Darlington Football Club in October 2008, appointed by then chairman of the club George Houghton until the club went into administration in February 2009. On 28 May, it was announced that he was taking over the club as chairman. On 7 August, Darlington came out of administration and were given permission by the Football League for Singh to take over as new owner and chairman of the club. Singh, together with previous owner Houghton, were confident enough to appoint manager Colin Todd in the interim period, as well as sanctioning contracts for a new playing squad. Shortly after Todd was handed a permanent deal Singh sacked Todd after he failed to win any of his first nine games and appointed Steve Staunton as his second permanent appointment. In early 2012 Singh decided to cut his losses and placed Darlington Football Club into administration, seven months after the FA Trophy victory at Wembley in May 2011.

Singh bought Hartlepool United at the end of the 2017–18 season. He committed more than £1.2 million in cash to the club, saving it from the threat of administration and potential liquidation. Under Singh's ownership, Hartlepool earned promotion in the 2021 play-off final after defeating Torquay United. In March 2022, in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Singh pledged £250,000 towards an appeal for those affected by the war. On 26 April 2023, in an official club statement, Singh confirmed that Hartlepool United would be put up for sale. Hartlepool were relegated back to the National League after two seasons in the Football League at the end of the 2022–23 season.

Shortly after relegation, the Hartlepool Mail were informed that they would be banned from attending Hartlepool home matches in future. In subsequent discussions, Singh confirmed that the decision would not be reversed. The editor of the Hartlepool Mail Gavin Ledwith added: "The letter was totally unexpected because the club had not indicated to us that there was a problem in the first place. Nor have they outlined with concrete evidence exactly what that apparent problem is." On 25 January 2024, Singh rejected a takeover offer for the club from a consortium including the Hartlepool United Supporters' Trust.

References



Text submitted to CC-BY-SA license. Source: Raj Singh (businessman) by Wikipedia (Historical)



 




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