Matthew Benham has acquired 100 per cent of Brentford Football Club after a resolution was passed following the Club’s AGM yesterday [Thursday] to reorganise the share capital of Brentford FC Limited.

The resolution consolidated 200,000 ordinary shares of Brentford FC into 80 New Ordinary Shares, with the result anyone with less than 2,500 ordinary shares ceased to be a shareholder of Brentford FC.

Matthew had owned 96 per cent of the Club since June 2012, when he bought the controlling stake from Bees United – The Brentford Supporters’ Trust.

The Club wishes to publicly recognise the contribution made by shareholders in the past, and the club owes its survival to their efforts and support particularly when Brentford was facing times of extreme financial crisis.

They are to be invited to an exclusive end of season event, and will receive a commemorative numbered share certificate, and their names will appear permanently in an area of the new stadium.

They will also receive Club Membership for a varying term dependent on their level of shareholding.

Full details will be sent to all shareholders in due course.

Cliff Crown, Brentford FC Chairman, said: “The current shareholder register is uneconomic to maintain, both in terms of financial costs and administrative burden.

“This process will result in cost savings for the Club, which can be used directly to fund the club and allow further investment to be made by Matthew in the Club by subscribing for new ordinary shares on terms which would significantly improve the presentation of the Club's balance sheet.

“We fully appreciate the sentimental value that the actual certificates hold for the supporters and therefore there will be no requirement to return the original certificates.

“Having invested in excess of £40m (to date) into the club, the time is right for Matthew to take full control of all of the shares.”