Two former players set to take over ownership of Kettering Town FC
An agreement has been reached in principle
Last updated 23rd Sep 2026
Kettering Town Football Club has announced that two former players will take over the ownership of the club.
An agreement has been reached in principle for Brad Piercewright and Craig Norman to buy the club from George Akhtar.
In a statement on Tuesday (22 September 2026) the club said the transaction will now move through the legal process, and subject to completion, the change of ownership should come into force by the end of the year.
George Akhtar said:
“As I reflect on the past two and a half years leading Kettering Town Football Club, I am immensely proud of the progress we have made both on and off the pitch.
"We have delivered successive play-off campaigns and a memorable FA Cup run, secured an extension to the club’s lease, doubled sponsorship revenues, increased attendances and significantly grown engagement across our social media platforms.
"Off the pitch, we have worked to make the club a destination for the wider community, including the development of the Fan Zone and major events such as our World Cup big-screen programme. We also proudly marked the 50th anniversary of Kettering Town becoming the first football club to wear commercial sponsorship on its shirts.
"These achievements have been part of a much wider plan: to stabilise the club, grow its revenues, reconnect it with supporters and the community, and create the foundations from which Kettering Town can fulfil its potential.
"The next stage requires investment on a completely different scale. Brad and Craig have outlined an ambitious vision backed by a commitment to invest millions of pounds into Kettering Town Football Club. Their proposals include the ambition to deliver a new stadium in Kettering and ultimately see the club secure league football.
"That commitment to substantial future investment was fundamental to my decision to reach an agreement in principle. I would not have agreed to pass ownership of the club on unless I believed the incoming owners had the ambition, resources, and commitment to build upon what has already been achieved and take Kettering Town significantly further.
"The opportunity now is not simply to maintain the progress of the last two and a half years, but to accelerate it. If Brad and Craig deliver the investment and vision they have outlined, it would represent one of the most significant commitments to Kettering Town Football Club in its history and give the club the opportunity to achieve things that simply have not previously been possible.
"I would like to thank Brad and Craig for the way discussions have concluded, as well as everybody who has helped us reach this point. There remains an important legal and due diligence process to complete, but I am delighted that we have reached agreement in principle and can now work together towards the next chapter in the history of Kettering Town Football Club.”
Brad and Craig said:
“We would like to sincerely thank George for the constructive way in which we have ultimately been able to bring these discussions together.
"All of us share one fundamental objective: we want what is best for Kettering Town Football Club.
"We recognise the responsibility that comes with taking ownership of a football club with the history, identity and passionate support that Kettering has. Our ambition is to build upon those foundations, invest significantly in the club and create something that supporters and the wider community can be proud of for many years to come.
"There is still important work to complete through due diligence and the legal process, and we will respect that process. However, today represents a significant and extremely positive step forward.”