English businessman
Ray Trew |
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Born | Ray Trew
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Occupation | Businessman |
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Known for | Owner of Contracting Solutions Group |
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Raymond Arthur Trew (born December 1954)[1] is a businessman and former football club chairman from Lincolnshire. He is a former board member of Lincoln City F.C., Notts County F.C., and Notts County Ladies F.C.
Trew achieved his wealth through recruitment,[2] having founded Contracting Solutions Group in 1995.[3] The company posted a £3.7m profit in 2009.[4] Trew also maintains numerous other private companies,[1] though in 2019 his application for a gangmaster's license was turned down on the grounds that his previous business conduct was not 'fit and proper'.[5][6]
Lincoln City
On 5 August 2003, Trew became an associate director at Lincoln City[7] becoming a full director at the end of the month.[8] In August 2005 he was appointed chairman of football with Steff Wright succeeding Rob Bradley as chairman of the board.[9] He departed in January 2006 after a boardroom dispute which saw manager Keith Alexander placed on gardening leave, then re-instated.[10] In April three of Trew's companies then terminated their sponsorship deals with the club.[11]
A subsequent bid to buy the club and provide substantial investment was blocked by the Lincoln City board, with chairman Steff Wright publicly questioning Trew's motives.[12][13]
Lincoln Ladies
In 2006 Trew joined the committee of Lincoln City Ladies. In addition to an £8,000-per-season sponsorship through his SportsTV company, Trew provided additional backing of up to £10,000 to aid the club's promotion bid.[14] In 2008 the club changed its name to OOH Lincoln Ladies, due to a sponsorship deal with Trew's Out Of Home marketing company.[15]
Trew also backed the club's successful FA WSL application,[15] but in 2014 Trew controversially moved the club to Nottingham and rebranded it Notts County Ladies.[16][17]
Notts County
Trew purchased Notts County for £1 in February 2010 following the departure of Qadbak Investments. He inherited liabilities of £7m from the former owners.[18] On 25 February 2016, Trew stepped down as chairman of Notts County and announced that the club was for sale,[19][20] but on 10 September 2016, Trew announced he had reinstated himself as chairman of Notts County.[21] On 12 January 2017, Trew sold the club to local businessman Alan Hardy,[22] but one of Trew's companies named Pinnacle Advantage was owed a substantial sum of money by the club. This threatened to force the club into liquidation until an agreement was reached in May 2017.[23]
Nottingham Rugby Club
In July 2010 Trew took control of Nottingham Rugby Club, via Meadow Lane plc.[24] On 28 September 2011 Trew relinquished his interest in Nottingham Rugby Club.[25]
References