Gloucester welcome new investor

Gloucester have announced that businessman Martin St Quinton has joined their board of directors after buying a 25% stake in the club.

The Walkinshaw family remain as principle owners with Tom Walkinshaw continuing his 10-year role as chairman.

Walkinshaw welcomed St Quinton, a telecommunications entrepreneur, to the club who are seventh in the Guinness Premiership after three wins and two defeats this season.

A statement read: "Any major off-field development such as this is extremely important for any club and I would like to take this opportunity of welcoming Martin on board on behalf of everyone at the Gloucester Rugby.

"Martin's involvement comes at a vital time for the club when we are growing and developing faster than at any time in our history.

"He has tremendous business acumen and will add value as a stakeholder - I am delighted to be able to bring him on board at the club."

St Quinton revealed the priority will be to increase the capacity at Kingsholm to 20,000 in order to provide more off-field opportunities to raise funds.

He added: "I am extremely excited about the opportunity to join this club with such history, tradition and passion.

"To be involved with such a major institution like Gloucester is not only humbling but a tremendous challenge.

"Tom Walkinshaw has done a huge amount for the club over the last decade and I want to support him to take the club to the next level - a level where we can challenge the best in Europe over the long term.

"The club owns its own ground at Kingsholm and the priority will be to enlarge the stadium to a 20,000 capacity, thereby providing the financial backbone to enable the club to consistently win trophies.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I am thrilled at the prospect of getting involved."