Potential Storm Brewing Over Southport FC Ownership Transfer

Southport Football Club once again finds itself at the centre of off-field uncertainty, as a proposed change in ownership remains under scrutiny. While Companies House shows an updated directorship and fans widely believe a takeover announcement is imminent, the reality behind the scenes appears far more complicated, and unresolved.

At the heart of the uncertainty is the club’s current ownership by The Big Help Group, which is not a registered charity but marketed itself as the parent company of The Big Help Project* – a charity currently under statutory inquiry by the Charity Commission. As set out in its official announcement in February 2024 the Commission confirmed it was investigating the Big Help Project due to concerns about its governance, management of funds and potential conflicts of interest. While there is no confirmation that the takeover has hit a stumbling block, recent reports have raised legitimate questions about whether any aspect of the club’s sale or ownership might be caught up in broader regulatory concerns.

The Liverpool Post reported on Thursday that the Charity Commission has opened a second statutory inquiry, this time into CG Community Council, another charity linked to the Big Help network through Peter Mitchell who was a former Trustee. The organisation, which holds leasehold interests in a number of properties, is being investigated over whether it has properly accounted for its funds and suffered financial losses due to potential misconduct. “As a result of the Charity Commission inquiry into Big Help Project, CG Community Trust was banned from selling or otherwise disposing of those homes without prior consent”. The new inquiry will examine whether trustees have complied with their legal duties, particularly around the charity’s governance, asset management, and potential exposure to financial loss. Last month, the Rhyl Journal reported that the Big Help Project had attempted to list a number of properties for auction before unexpectedly withdrawing them without explanation.

Furthermore, staff linked to the Big Help Group have reportedly missed wage payments and been notified of unpaid pension contributions. According to the Post, bailiffs have repossessed the group’s Boaler Street offices, which have since been listed for sale. The Liverpool Echo, on Friday, obtained comments from an unnamed Spokesperson from the group who stated: “Unfortunately Big Help Group has been undertaking a period of consolidation as a result of rising costs and reductions in income and as such has made the difficult decision to facilitate the sale of our office base on Boaler Street.”

All of this suggests a broader financial collapse across the Big Help network, potentially placing Southport FC at greater risk.

If an organisation is in financial difficulty – and the aforementioned issues certainly suggest this applies to the Big Help Group at the moment – then any disposal of a significant asset, such as a football club, must be done at fair market value and with clear accountability. If the group is deemed insolvent, insolvency practitioners (IPs) appointed during administration or liquidation proceedings have the power to investigate and potentially reverse any asset disposals made in the two years leading up to the insolvency, particularly if those transactions were not at market value or were conducted without transparency.

While Companies House reflects a change in directorship at Southport FC, with those linked to Big Help Group removed and David Cunningham and Kieran Malone added, this does not mean that a formal change of ownership has taken place. Shares can be held without an individual being listed as a director, and the National League requires formal approval of any ownership transfer before it becomes official.

It is against National League rules to announce the conclusion of a takeover being subject to League approval (Rule 2.20.1). On 1st May Peter Mitchell issued a statement via the club website in which he stated “I can also confirm that Big Help Group have entered into a period of exclusivity regarding the sale of Southport Football Club. Furthermore I can confirm that the process is currently underway to obtain the necessary league approvals for this transition of ownership”. Therefore in the absence of statements to the contrary and with no announcements to confirm the takeover as having concluded, it would be reasonable to assume therefore that the current attempt to transfer control of Southport FC may be at risk. This may be not only because of past concerns but also because of uncertainty around whether the disposal is appropriate given the financial state of the seller.

It is not within the League’s hands alone to approve the transaction if legal or regulatory issues – especially involving a Charity Commission investigation – are still unresolved. Until such matters are cleared or a resolution is agreed upon, the League is likely unable to sanction the deal.

The uncertainty leaves Southport in limbo. If the Big Help Group is forced into administration, and the current attempted sale is reversed or ruled improper, the future ownership of Southport FC could be determined by insolvency practitioners –  introducing yet more uncertainty over who will lead the club moving forward.

In addition to ownership uncertainty, the club is also believed to still have at least one outstanding County Court Judgment (CCJ). While seemingly minor in isolation, unresolved debts of this nature can trigger league sanctions, including transfer embargoes, if financial stability cannot be demonstrated.

For fans, it’s a deeply frustrating position: the club has directors in place who appear to be willing to steer decisions and move forward, but are unable to do so without confirmation of a change in ownership. That situation may persist until regulators conclude their investigations and, if necessary, administrators decide the fate of the asset.

In short, despite what appears on paper or on Companies House, the ownership of Southport FC remains very much unresolved, and with the Big Help Group empire visibly crumbling, there may be more upheaval to come.

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Q: What if the Big Help Group goes into administration?

A: Then insolvency practitioners (IPs) would take over. They can review recent transactions — including the club’s sale — and potentially reverse them if they weren’t done properly or at market value.

Q: Could Southport FC itself go into administration?

A: Not automatically. Southport FC is a separate limited company. But if the club has relied financially on Big Help Group — through loans, unpaid bills, or operational support — then it could face financial problems too.

Q: What happens to the current board — Cunningham and Malone — if the deal is blocked?

A: They are currently listed as directors, but without league approval they don’t yet control the club’s shareholding in footballing terms. If the deal is later approved, they may take full control. If it’s reversed or challenged, they may need to buy the club again — this time properly and at market value.

Q: Could this affect signings or pre-season planning?
A: Yes. The uncertainty makes it harder to set budgets, sign players, or even confirm managerial appointments. If debts like County Court Judgments remain unpaid, the club could face a transfer embargo. Other clubs in similar situations — particularly where obligations to HMRC or other creditors have gone unmet over multiple months — have faced sanctions, including transfer bans, until their financial affairs were brought into order.

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*Peter Mitchell described the structure of his empire to the Southport FC Website in an interview on 28th October 2023, as follows “The Big Help Group is the parent group which covers a whole number of companies. We’ve got a Building arm, housing association arm, we’ve got for-profit companies and we have a charitable part of the company, and the charity is something that we’re really really proud of”

Editor’s note / Statement:

This article is based on publicly available information from regulatory bodies, official filings, and credible media reports. Care has been taken to present all facts accurately and in context, without speculation or accusation. Where developments are ongoing or unconfirmed, the article makes this clear. No assumptions have been made about individuals’ intentions, and all reporting is carried out in the public interest to inform supporters about matters affecting the governance and future of Southport FC.

Rhyl Journal (2nd April 2025) Director resigns from companies which own Rhyl homeless properties – https://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/25056536.director-resigns-companies-rhyl-homeless-properties/

Liverpool Post: Your Post Briefing (8th May 2025)- https://www.livpost.co.uk/why-are-liverpools-streets-so-dirty/

Liverpool Echo: Group linked to investigated charity to sell office with £1.7m price – https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/group-linked-investigated-charity-sell-31607316

Eddisons property listing: https://www.eddisons.com/property-search/212h-boaler-street-liverpool-merseyside-l6-6ae

BBC Report: Liverpool charity faces watchdog finance probe (8th May 2025) – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgjljpl9d64o

BBC Report: Liverpool: The Big Help Project investigated by Charity Commission (5th Feb 2024) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-68211670

Gov.uk Press Release: Regulator investigates charity’s property and governance issues (7th May 2025) – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regulator-investigates-charitys-property-and-governance-issues

Gov.uk Press Release: Regulator investigates anti-poverty charity – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regulator-investigates-anti-poverty-charity

Companies House Filings for Southport Football Club: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01486711/filing-history

National League Rules concerning Membership Requirements (Section 2)
see 2.15 Ownership and Change of Control and 2.16 Acquisition of Control – https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.pitchero.com/leagues/15004_1723212435.pdf