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Fans celebrate huge news for Dagenham & Redbridge with ‘exciting times ahead’

Fans took to social media to celebrate huge news which has this week been confirmed for Dagenham & Redbridge with ‘exciting times ahead’.

An American firm are taking a controlling stake the National League club, who finished the 2023/24 season in 15th with 56 points from 46 games played, four points above the drop zone and 15 points from the playoffs.

Dagenham & Redridge Executive Chairman Peter B. Freund (@SportsHoldings) tweeted: “Thrilled Matt Rizzetta and his incredibly accomplished group have agreed to the Daggers takeover. Having just gotten Campobasso FC 🇮🇹promoted for a 2nd straight season should speak to our new owner’s ambitions for our club. Fired up to join them for this next chapter! #COYD🇬🇧🇺🇸

STATEMENT

NEW YORK and LONDON – May 8, 2024 – Club Underdog, a subsidiary of North Sixth Group, today announced it has reached an agreement in principle to acquire historic East London-based football club Dagenham & Redbridge (“Daggers”). The club was previously owned by a group led by New York Yankees minority owner Peter Freund.

Based in East London, the Daggers boast a rich footballing tradition dating back to 1881. The club was fortified in 1992 following the merger of storied London sides Dagenham and Redbridge Forest. 

“We received an overwhelming amount of interest in purchasing the Daggers, but it was critical to us that we chose a partner who had the operating track record of promotion and vision to help this club reach its potential,” said Peter Freund. “It has been an absolute privilege to be at the helm of this club which has become family for me and my partners over the past six years. We are confident the club is in great hands under North Sixth Group, and fans can expect a successful, sustainable and enjoyable product for years to come.”

Under its Club Underdog subsidiary, North Sixth Group has a successful track record achieving sporting and business results for lower-tier clubs with rich tradition in strategic locations with high upside potential. 

In 2024, North Sixth Group became one of the first foreign ownership groups in history to achieve back-to-back promotions with Italian football club Campobasso FC. Campobasso FC was in the fifth tier of Italian football when North Sixth Group acquired the club in 2022, and in its first two years of ownership, won consecutive league championships for the first time in the club’s 105-year history. The group also owns Brooklyn Football Club, the first professional men’s and women’s expansion football franchise in the history of the Borough of Brooklyn, and one of the most exciting football ventures in the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Partners in the ownership group include visionary entrepreneur Morgan Harris, media and sports expert Matt Rizzetta, and private equity industry veteran Daniel Hall, who is a native of England and was born near the East London home of the Daggers.

“This is a sort of homecoming for me personally, having been born and raised not far from the Daggers ground,” said Daniel Hall, Partner of North Sixth Group’s sports ownership subsidiary Club Underdog. “We believe the Daggers have all the right ingredients to become a fixture in the higher tiers of English football in the future, and we will do everything we can to build our vision step by step as we have done with our other clubs. We can guarantee hard work, innovation and a relentless dedication to bringing fans of the Daggers what they deserve in the years ahead.” 

Following a 15th place finish and a comfortable position in the National League table in the 2023-24 season, fans of the Daggers are excited about the 2024-25 campaign, which commences in August. 

“It is a true honor and privilege to bring the Daggers into this next chapter,” said Matt Rizzetta, Founding Partner and Chairman of North Sixth Group. “We would like to thank Peter and his group for this opportunity. We believe we can build something truly special for the Daggers by following the same values of humility and innovation that have enabled us to be successful in Italy, Brooklyn and other markets. We are energized about the opportunity to create a winning product and to turn the Daggers into a source of pride for everyone who can identify with the underdog spirit that makes East London a special place.” 

Representing North Sixth Group on the transaction were Simone Calzolai, Esq. in the United Kingdom, and Dave Barry in the United States. Investment banker and global football expert Laurie Pinto of Pinto Capital advised on the transaction. Closing of the transaction is expected to occur prior to the opening of the 2024-25 National League season and remains subject to standard approvals from sporting and regulatory bodies. 

ABOUT CLUB UNDERDOG POWERED BY N6

Club Underdog is a multi-club sports entity wholly owned and operated by North Sixth Group, a New York and Los Angeles-based family office operating company. Under its ownership are historic sports clubs and assets including Campobasso FC, Ascoli FC and Brooklyn FC. North Sixth Group became one of the first foreign ownership groups in history to achieve back-to-back promotions with Italian side Campobasso FC, bringing the club from the fifth tier to Serie C in just two years. In 2023, the group also made history as the first ownership group to bring an expansion football franchise to the Borough of Brooklyn after a years long process. Kicking off in USL Super League and USL Championship in 2024 and 2025 respectively, Brooklyn FC is one of the only sports franchises in the United States to include a professional men’s and women’s team under the same platform.

As mentioned, fans celebrate the huge news for Dagenham & Redbridge with ‘exciting times ahead’…

@JimPars53543240: Absolutely buzzing for this. Hugely positive to see there was ‘overwhelming interest’ in us. One of the main words that stood out to me in the statement (amongst others of course) was innovation. I really hope they do embrace that concept & who knows where it’ll take us. 🥳

@TonyDolby1980: Let’s hope they get rid of Steve Thompson

@Mikeydagger: Fantastic news for the club . I feel that this means a stronger budget and I also feel that PBF deserves huge plaudits for this -he has supported the club with large investment and then got this new deal over the line and with continued support from Schwab and peter COYD

@leewilsonDRFC: Weird feeling now it’s confirmed. I just hope that this is the moment where we get it ‘right’. #COYD

@Mikeydagger: Superb news and thank you for continued support both financial and emotional !! Good to see Schwabs and yourself still involved . The media background these guys have and previous experience in football is very exciting

@JackMaulks: Confirmed a lot quicker than I thought. Really positive news to allow the gaffer, staff and players to prepare properly for the upcoming season. Think that season expectations need to be realistic still though

@christof88: Superb business @SportsHoldings @MemphisGM. Promising stuff!

@marowe1988: Best wishes to them. Lets get behind them and hope they back strevs and lets get back to where we belong

@JimPars53543240: GRAZIE MILLE – Peter !! Appreciate your part in overseeing what appears to be a pretty seamless transition to new owners, of which can hopefully take us to the next level, finally….

@DaggerOncea: Very glad you are involved still Peter and once again thanks for all you have done previously and how you have navigated this ownership change

@daggercraig82: Glad you’re staying on onwards and upwards

@JackShikari12: Glad to see you’re staying on Peter 🔴🔵

@Jakemas71037342: Good to hear your still involved Peter 😍

@DarrenG1977: Certainly sounds promising!! Up the Daggers ⚔️

@TonyDolby1980: So glad you are still involved with the daggers Peter thank you for everything you have done for the club 🔴🔵⚔️

@caulfield1390: Glad your still involved 🇺🇸🇮🇹

@annemarie1111: Looking forward to see what they have planned for next season and beyond.

@9men: As rumoured, here we go! Sounds exciting, fingers crossed

@JaxSunServices: Great that the takeover was swift so that the Daggers can fully prepare for 24/25. PF and co seem to have done exactly what they said, pass the club to someone who will push it forward

@Dazzarogers: Good the news for the club and wish the new ownership the best of luck. Intrigued to hear more about the backroom setup of the club/board in the near future. Last chance to truly move with the times & do things differently in many aspects.

@OnceADagger: And it’s official! Very keen to hear more from them and see what changes are in the pipeline. Let’s hope for a bright and sustainable future at the club. A future that sees Keenan Appiah-Forson complete over 400 appearances and become captain

@DanielLaw99: Excellent news for the Daggers 👏🏻 Good to see that they have stable investment again!

@Diggerthedog1: Announce @Campobasso1919 pre season tour

@notepaddy: Exciting times ahead at Victoria Rd. Go ahead and give Strevs the backing he needs to mount a serious challenge for next season. How long till we can get @Campobasso1919 shirts in the club shop?

@christof88: Time to push on 💪💪💪 #COYD

@BenHolding01: Exciting times ahead! Up the Dags! ⚔️

@LLcoolJames91: Let’s go welcome to Dagenham 👏🏻 #COYD⚔️

@NickMurphy1995: All hail our new American overlords (again)

@TerryDRFC: Great, the uncertainty surrounding our club has gone 👍⚔️⚔️🔴🔵

@JoshKench1: Highly optimistic

@beth_n15: Exciting times ahead!

@ben_yfd: FORZA ITALIAAAAAAAA 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

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