The businessman linked with a takeover of Notts County has completed the sale of League Two club Port Vale.
Norman Smurthwaite, who purchased Vale from administrators in 2012, has been involved in a number of sporting ventures since retiring from a business career eight years ago and was spotted attending games at Meadow Lane this season.
His reign at Vale Park has proved controversial.
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The 58-year-old had been under increasing pressure from a section of fans who protested against his running of the club.
Smurthwaite said the abuse he had received from some supporters had reached "disgraceful" levels, and he promised to put the club into administration if he could not find a buyer by the start of May.
Vale's new owners, Carol and Kevin Shanahan, are also owners of Synectics Solutions, the Burslem-based IT company that is next door to the Sky Bet League Two club's Vale Park home.
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A statement on the Valiants' Twitter account said: "The club can confirm that Carol and Kevin Shanahan have completed the purchase of Port Vale Football Club.
"The first action has been for the club to purchase Vale Park in its entirety and bring it back under the ownership of the club.
"All future revenue generated within Vale Park will remain within Port Vale Football Club.
"On behalf of the club, Carol and Kevin would like to thank everybody for their huge support during this process and look forward to the future success of Port Vale."
The Shanahans are long-standing Port Vale fans and first registered their interest in buying the club three years ago and believed to have had three offers for the club rejected.
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Vale finished the League Two season in 20th place, eight points above relegated Notts.
Smurthwaite, a former Nottingham resident, built a large portion of his business career in Nottingham.
Before retirement he controlled a number of local estate agents which soon became Halifax Property Group, but he has previously stated that he has "no intention" of bidding for the club.
Current Magpies owner Alan Hardy revealed in an emotional interview with BBC Radio Nottingham on Saturday that the club's takeover would be completed within the next "seven to ten" days with the club's future owners understood to have progressed through due dillegence.
