US Investors Join Kilwinning Rangers

Kilwinning Rangers Football Club is pleased to confirm that Will Freeman and Luca Farina have joined the club as minority shareholders following a three-month due diligence process.

Tampa native Will is a technology entrepreneur and sports investor and philanthropist, while Maryland-based Luca is a senior business executive and investor with a passion for football.

While both are based thousands of miles from Kilwinning, neither arrives at the club unfamiliar with what is happening at Buffs Park.

Over the past three months, Will and Luca have actively followed the club's progress, watched games and familiarised themselves with the playing squad, results and wider developments around Kilwinning Rangers.

Both have also spent considerable time understanding the club's five-year plans and the work taking place behind the scenes.

They now plan to travel to Kilwinning in the coming months, giving them the opportunity to attend matches, visit the club and facilities and meet the people involved in the project for themselves.

The club remains majority owned by its long-term supporters. The addition of Will and Luca is viewed as strategic, bringing business experience, fresh thinking and international networks alongside their financial investment. Potential commercial relationships with US-based businesses are already being explored.

Their arrival also comes during a period of significant progress.

Home crowds have already more than doubled this season and the club expects strong attendances to continue as interest grows.

Kilwinning Rangers also believes it is ahead of the curve in its preparations for SFA Bronze licensing, an important part of ensuring the club's infrastructure can support further progression through the football pyramid should performances on the pitch earn that opportunity.

The new stand at Buffs Park is expected to be completed in the coming months, with further infrastructure improvements planned immediately afterwards.

Chairman Jack Schofield said:

"It's an incredibly exciting time for Kilwinning Rangers. We've been sharing our story locally and further afield, and it's caught the imagination of a number of interested parties.

"Investment is important, but the experience, connections and different perspectives Will and Luca bring can be just as valuable.

"Football projects can sometimes become about throwing money at short-term success. That's not our plan. We want to make well thought-out decisions and build a sustainable club capable of raising standards year after year.

"Kilwinning Rangers has 127 years of history and we're simply the current custodians. There's plenty of work ahead. We'll embrace it and keep pushing."

First-team manager Chris Strain added:

"When we took the reins back in March, we knew progress off the park would be every bit as important as our performances on it.

"This doesn't change my playing budget. I'm sure we'll hear that Kilwinning suddenly have loads of money because we've got American investors, but unfortunately for me that's not quite how it works!

"No, in all seriousness, it shows the club is an attractive proposition. Successful people are looking at what we're trying to achieve and choosing to become part of it. That's really positive for us."

Kilwinning Rangers would also like to place on record its thanks to FIFA-registered football agent Cesare Marchetti for his assistance, experience and introductions throughout the process.