Drogheda United owners set to secure majority stake in Danish top-flight club

American-based Trivela, who also own League Two side Walsall as well as Drogheda, have today reached an agreement with the Danish club to acquire an 80pc stake, with the move to be voted on by shareholders at an EGM next month.

Silkeborg were founded in 1917 and are currently fourth in the Danish Superliga. The club, situated in central Denmark, won their only league title in 1994 and won the Danish Cup for the second time in their history last year. They reached the Conference League third qualifying round in August where they were knocked out by Gent.

Kevin Doherty's side have benefitted from their relationship with Walsall of late, with the likes of Evan Weir and Douglas James-Taylor arriving on loan at the Louth club. The latter has made a big contribution this season, helping Drogheda to a first FAI Cup win since 2005 this month as well as Premier Division safety in last weekend's play-off win over Bray Wanderers.

Trivela also added Togo grassroots club Trivela FC to their portfolio recently, with Silkeborg now set to become the group's fourth football club.

Benjamin Boycott, Trivela Group's managing director, insists there will be shared benefits to the multi-club arrangement.

"As I've always said to our supporters in Walsall and Drogheda, if and when we acquire more clubs, it will have to be of benefit to all parties – we won't do it just to do it," said Boycott, who will also be releasing a video message later this week to provide clarity on the news along with CEO Ben Sadler.

"I hope that our supporters can see and feel the shared benefits thus far, with player collaboration on the likes of Evan Weir and Douglas James Taylor benefitting both DUFC and WFC, and shared supporter experiences such as this summer's Trivela Cup and the recent FAI Cup Final, which a number of Walsall supporters attended.

"We believe that these benefits will be felt even more as we add Silkeborg to the Trivela family, with the potential for mutually-beneficial player movement between clubs, potential technical and administrative staff career advancement and development opportunities inside the group, shared commercial sponsorship deals, and even more shared supporter experiences between clubs.

"This move into Denmark is a significant investment as well, being made due to the sporting and financial excellence of the football club, our belief in Denmark as a growth market, our strong belief in current management, and what we perceive to be excellent and mutually beneficial synergies between SIF and our current family of clubs."