Ray Ranson
Encyclopedia
Raymond "Ray" Ranson is an English
entrepreneur, former Chairman of Coventry City F.C.
, and a former professional footballer
. He started his football career with Manchester City
, and played for Birmingham City
, Newcastle United
and Reading
. After his playing career ended, he amassed a multimillion pound fortune in insurance and sports finance. In 2005, Ranson headed a consortium in an attempt to purchase Aston Villa
and on 14 December 2007 he successfully led a consortium to take over Coventry City.
in 1976. A defender
who usually played at right-back, he made his senior debut in a 0–0 draw against Nottingham Forest
on 23 December 1978. He went on to be capped several times by England
at under-21 level and was part of the Manchester City team which reached the 1981 FA Cup final.
In November 1984 Ranson was transferred to Birmingham City
, where he played 137 times in the League. With Birmingham he won promotion to the First Division
in 1985, but the club were relegated the following season. He spent nearly five years at Birmingham before joining Newcastle United
, for whom he made his debut on 26 December 1988 in a 2–1 win against Sheffield Wednesday
, the first of 83 League appearances for the club. In January 1993 he returned to Manchester City, making 17 appearances to bring his total for Manchester City to 233. At the end of the season, he joined Reading
, where he finished his playing career.
Overall he amassed 445 professional league appearances over 17 years, scoring twice and earned 10 international caps at England under-21 level.
director Matthew Harding
. Ranson invested heavily in the company, and sold his stake for several million pounds in 2002. He then started a venture funding football transfers on a sale and leaseback basis, including several deals with then Leeds United
chairman Peter Ridsdale
.
In recent years, Ranson has taken an interest in taking over a football club. Ranson twice headed a consortium in unsuccessful attempt to purchase Aston Villa
. The first bid £30 million in April 2004, and the second takeover attempt was valued at £45 million. In April 2007, he then bid an offer of what is thought to be £90million to buy former club Manchester City. However, on 30 May 2007, he pulled out of the proposed takeover bid of Manchester City after failing to come to an agreement with the then board.
In October 2007, Ranson attempted to take over Southampton
on behalf of hedge fund
company SISU; however in December 2007 Ranson completed a deal to take over Coventry City
, with just 30 minutes before the club was set to go into administration.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
entrepreneur, former Chairman of Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, and a former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He started his football career with Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, and played for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. After his playing career ended, he amassed a multimillion pound fortune in insurance and sports finance. In 2005, Ranson headed a consortium in an attempt to purchase Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and on 14 December 2007 he successfully led a consortium to take over Coventry City.
Playing career
Ranson's sporting career began when he was signed as an apprentice by Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in 1976. A defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who usually played at right-back, he made his senior debut in a 0–0 draw against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on 23 December 1978. He went on to be capped several times by England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at under-21 level and was part of the Manchester City team which reached the 1981 FA Cup final.
In November 1984 Ranson was transferred to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, where he played 137 times in the League. With Birmingham he won promotion to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1985, but the club were relegated the following season. He spent nearly five years at Birmingham before joining Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, for whom he made his debut on 26 December 1988 in a 2–1 win against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, the first of 83 League appearances for the club. In January 1993 he returned to Manchester City, making 17 appearances to bring his total for Manchester City to 233. At the end of the season, he joined Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, where he finished his playing career.
Overall he amassed 445 professional league appearances over 17 years, scoring twice and earned 10 international caps at England under-21 level.
Business career
Ranson's playing career ended due to injury in 1995. A year later he took a job working for Benfield Greig, the insurance company owned by ChelseaChelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
director Matthew Harding
Matthew Harding
Matthew Harding was a British businessman, vice-chairman of Chelsea football club and a major financial supporter of New Labour .-Early years:...
. Ranson invested heavily in the company, and sold his stake for several million pounds in 2002. He then started a venture funding football transfers on a sale and leaseback basis, including several deals with then Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
chairman Peter Ridsdale
Peter Ridsdale
Peter Ridsdale is an English businessman who is currently the Chairman of Football Operations at League Two club Plymouth Argyle. Ridsdale was previously the chairman of Leeds United, Barnsley and Cardiff City.-History:...
.
In recent years, Ranson has taken an interest in taking over a football club. Ranson twice headed a consortium in unsuccessful attempt to purchase Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. The first bid £30 million in April 2004, and the second takeover attempt was valued at £45 million. In April 2007, he then bid an offer of what is thought to be £90million to buy former club Manchester City. However, on 30 May 2007, he pulled out of the proposed takeover bid of Manchester City after failing to come to an agreement with the then board.
In October 2007, Ranson attempted to take over Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on behalf of hedge fund
Hedge fund
A hedge fund is a private pool of capital actively managed by an investment adviser. Hedge funds are only open for investment to a limited number of accredited or qualified investors who meet criteria set by regulators. These investors can be institutions, such as pension funds, university...
company SISU; however in December 2007 Ranson completed a deal to take over Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, with just 30 minutes before the club was set to go into administration.