Harness completes takeover of stricken Scunthorpe

Scunthorpe United are fourth in National League North

Local businesswoman Michelle Harness has completed a takeover of Scunthorpe United from David Hilton.

Harness worked as the club's commercial director for 15 years and was previously on the board.

BBC Radio Humberside understands talks are ongoing between the club and former owner Peter Swann to enable them to continue playing at Glanford Park.

After Hilton announced he would no longer be putting money into the club last week, they released a statement to say they would move their home games to Gainsborough Trinity's ground after this Saturday's match against Brackley.

However, Gainsborough said that this had been asserted "without their knowledge or consent".

Last week's announcement from Hilton also saw fans come together to raise over £50,000 to help cover unpaid wages.

"There are a lot of challenges and problems to overcome, but David has taken no fee for the club, and wiped all monies that he personally invested to enable this deal to happen," Harness said in a statement on the club's website.

"There is now a lot of work to do behind the scenes to get our great football club back on track, and that work starts immediately with the fantastic team we have working for us, starting with the appointment of a new board."

Scunthorpe, who were in the Championship as recently as 2011, have endured a dreadful period over the past five years.

They were relegated from League One in 2019 and then saw their 72-year spell in the Football League come to an end in 2022 after a campaign in which they won just four of 46 matches.

Worse was to come last season as they were relegated down to the sixth tier of English football.

They are fourth in National League North after 10 games, two points off the top.