Wimborne Town Football Club has three new owners.

Martin Higgins, Adam Tovey and Lee Merrifield have acquired a majority stake in the club which moved to its new ground earlier this year.

As well as being long-standing fans of the Southern League Premier South club, the three are senior level colleagues at a Poole-based property finance company.

While the purchase price for the stake is undisclosed, the new owners say it is ‘a sizeable sum backed with a long-term commitment to do the best for the club’.

Adam, who is taking the role of vice chairman, said: “This is all about writing an exciting new chapter for Wimborne Town with significant investment on and off the pitch.

“We are committing ourselves to improve the playing squad and progress the profile of the Magpies with new community initiatives.

“We will be announcing more details in due course and we would like to attract new supporters and further investment including from potential sponsors.

“Our message to the business community in and around Wimborne is that our door is open and we are more than happy to talk to you if you want to get more involved with the club.”

Adam is valuation director at MSP Capital, where Martin is managing director and Lee is underwriting and credit manager.

Both passionate about football, Martin and Adam are the driving forces behind MSP Capital’s shirt sponsorship deal with AFC Bournemouth, yet they are keen to stress their Wimborne Town purchase is by three individuals rather than the company they work for.

Adam said: “The majority stake is not being acquired by MSP Capital but is something we are doing personally.”

Lee, taking an enhanced role as finance director at the club, said: “This next chapter is an evolution not a revolution, as the current board have undertaken some outstanding work for the club with a dedicated level of commitment. They will be maintaining their presence moving forwards as shareholders and board members.

“This is really important to our decision to invest, as we value the history and provenance of the club and those that have steered the club to where it is today. Their input will be invaluable and this collaborative approach we feel is best set to drive the club and its plans forward.”

Magpies’ current chairman, Tony Grant, said: “We all want to see Wimborne Town go from strength to strength, especially since we moved to our new purpose-built stadium, New Cuthbury, earlier this season.

“The time is right to pass the baton of ownership on and I wish Adam, Martin and Lee all the very best with taking the club forward, bringing in new players and investment and raising our profile in the community.”

Wimborne Town was founded in 1878 and, until this season’s stadium move, had played at the same ground Cuthbury for more than a century.