Exeter Chiefs members vote in favour of sale to AFC Bournemouth’s American owners

• Bill Foley’s Cannae Holdings Inc expected to complete deal

• Billionaire Foley to provide ‘significant’ investment

Exeter’s members have voted in favour of selling the club to the American owners of AFC Bournemouth. Cannae Holdings Inc, part of billionaire Bill Foley’s investment empire which also includes the Black Knight Sports and Entertainment group, is now set to take full control of the Chiefs and provide “significant” multi-million-pound funding

Exeter, who rose from lower-league anonymity to claim a European and domestic title double in 2020, have previously been a members-owned club since their foundation in 1871. At a special general meeting, however, members voted by a comfortable majority to approve the club’s sale with long-time chairman Tony Rowe having negotiated a landmark deal with the new US backers.