Former Port Vale owner linked with Scunthorpe takeover
Internet rumours have suggested that former Port Vale owner Norman Smurthwaite is one of the favourites to become the new owner of National League side Scunthorpe United.
Smurthwaite owned Port Vale from 2012 to 2019, initially in partnership with Paul Wildes and then as sole owner – and it was fair to say his reign was highly controversial. He was responsible for several ill-thought out remarks (such as accusing Vale fans of being too racist for him to appoint Jimmyfloyd Hasselbaink as manager) and a reign that was marked towards the end with fan protests against his ownership. Smurthwaite eventually sold the club to the Shanahans in 2019.
Scunthorpe appear to be in financial jeopardy. They were recently subject of a winding-up petition and owner Peter Swann is trying to sell the club. A takeover, from a local group, seemed close to completion last month, but is yet to go through and now rumours suggest Smurthwaite may step in.
The Smurthwaite years
Read our account of the Norman Smurthwaite ownership of Port Vale here