Gateshead Football Club has named Hartlepool-born entrepreneur Stephen Paylor as a new joint-owner, a move that aims to boost the club’s global profile while maintaining its strong local roots. The appointment was announced on 21 April, 2026, and is now awaiting final approval from the National League.
Mr Paylor brings two decades of experience in the United States, where he founded a youth academy called Next Level Soccer in Arizona. The club chairman, Bernard McWilliams, noted that he had been in discussions with Mr Paylor for a year leading up to this agreement. He described the new partner as an ideal fit given his background in business and player development, which includes a previous role as technical director at the American club Phoenix Rising FC.
The club’s principal shareholder, Mark Nellist, emphasised that this partnership is designed to help the team grow by utilising Mr Paylor’s international connections. He assured supporters that the core focus remains on the interests of the local community. The club has operated as a fan-owned organisation since 2019, when a takeover led by the supporters group Gateshead Soul helped rescue the team from a period of significant financial trouble.
This news follows a challenging time for the club, which recently finished 17th in the division after a difficult season. Despite the earlier off-field disruption, the team managed to secure their position in the league by earning 31 points during their final 15 matches.
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