Ex-QPR owner Tony Fernandes has bought a 40 per cent stake in Dagenham and Redbridge, eSPORTY understands.
Fernandes, who was a shareholder at QPR between 2011 and 2023, is set to join influencer KSI in investing in the sixth-tier Daggers.
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Last month, streamer-turned-boxer KSI made the headlines when it was announced he had purchased a minority stake in the Daggers.
It is understood that the internet star owns in the region of 20 per cent of the club.
The takeover has drawn plenty of attention, not least after KSI declared his goal to take the National League South side to the Premier League.
And he may now have just the man to help him achieve his dream, with Fernandes boasting plenty of experience in this field.
Who is Tony Fernandes?
Malaysian businessman Fernandes bought QPR in 2011, just three months after they had secured promotion to the Premier League.
He became co-chairman with majority shareholder Ruben Gnanalingam in 2015, before stepping down from the role in 2018.
During Fernandes’ time as chairman, the Rs were twice relegated from the Premier League, despite avoiding the drop in his first season.
After dropping down to the Championship in 2013, they won promotion back to the top-flight at the first attempt a year later, but suffered another relegation in the 2015/16 campaign.
Fernandes’ spell also proved controversial, with QPR fined £17million in 2018 as part of a £42m settlement for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
He stepped away from the club altogether in 2023, selling his entire shareholding to focus on other business ventures.
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The businessman is the founder of Malaysian budget airline AirAsia, and still holds the position of CEO.
Exciting times
Fernandes looks to be the latest high-profile figure to invest in Dagenham and Redbridge, in an exciting period for the club.
The east London side have seen their ownership group overhauled over recent months.
Last month, US-based investment consortium Happy Fan Group bought the club, with former captain Anwar Uddin taking over as chairman.
KSI’s arrival is the group’s biggest most move yet, which came just days after former Premier League and England striker Andy Carroll became a shareholder.
There was more shock news in store, as Carroll was then placed in interim charge of the Daggers following Lee Bradbury’s sacking.
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With a new era just beginning at Victoria Road, there is no shortage of ambition from their new minority stakeholder.
After being unveiled as an investor, KSI boldly declared his long-term vision to take the club to the very top.
Outlining his goals, he said: “I want the place to be pumping, I want it to be rocking, I want it to be an event whenever you come here.
“Playing a video game and owning a football club is very different, I know that, but with Race to Division One (his FIFA YouTube series), it was a journey. It was hard, but in the end, I did it.
“With this club, I want to do the unthinkable. I want to take Dagenham and Redbridge to the Premier League.
“It’s obviously going to take time, but I’d say the realistic goal is getting out of this league and entering the National League.”
