Simon Weaver becomes Harrogate Town co-owner as father Irving ends 15-year reign

Weaver takes ownership stake at the Sulphurites

Long-serving Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver has become co-owner of the National League club, bringing an end to his father Irving Weaver's ownership of the North Yorkshire side.

Weaver, who took over as boss in May 2009, has bought into the club together with local businessman Jonathan Bleazard in a deal Harrogate described as "an important new chapter in its history". Irving Weaver had been owner since 2011, and the father-and-son partnership presided over the most successful period in the club's history.

Promotion to the Football League and a relegation

Under their stewardship, Harrogate were promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history in 2020 and went on to spend six seasons in League Two. That run came to an end when the club were relegated back to the National League last season.

The Sulphurites have made a strong start to life back in the fifth tier, sitting second in the table after 13 matches. They are next in action away at Bury in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

'Not family succession'

Irving Weaver was keen to stress that the change of ownership should not be read as a straightforward handover within the family, pointing instead to the combined commitment of the two new co-owners.

"This should not be viewed as family succession. Both Simon and Jonathan are making a significant commitment to this football club and, crucially, they are doing so together," Irving Weaver told the club website. "Their experiences and strengths complement each other extremely well."

Managerial role unchanged, says Weaver

Simon Weaver, who will remain in the dugout, made clear that adding an ownership stake would not alter how he expects to be judged.

"My position and my role as manager will not change, and my ambition remains exactly the same – to become the best football manager I can possibly be and to keep pushing this team forward," he said.

"I fully accept that, as manager, I will continue to be judged on results in exactly the same way as any other manager in football. Becoming a co-owner does not change that responsibility or the standards I expect of myself."