Wael Al Qadi has admitted that the decision to hand over his shares in Bristol Rovers to Hussain Al Saeed was an “emotional” one but that the Gas chairman needs the opportunity to have “a run at it.”
Rovers recently announced that club president Al Qadi and his brother Samer would be handing over their shares in the club, 40.5 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively, to Al Saeed over the course of the next 18 months. The Jordanian will keep his current title of president during this time.
The news certainly triggered a number of emotional responses across the Gas fanbase but in a recent interview with BBC Points West following the announcement, Al Qadi insisted that now is the right time to step away.
“Well, you know, it’s of course very emotional for me and I’m a Gashead and Rovers was my life but things come to an end and a new era begins,” the Rovers club president confessed. “The new majority owner, it’s now his time. He needs to have a run at it.
“I’ve had a wonderful time at Rovers. Nearly nine years. Most of that time spent in League One. Only one-and-a-half years in League Two. Two epic promotions. Ups and downs. Beautiful times. Epic moments and lovely memories.
“So, it’s a new chapter for Rovers and I’m just really glad to be involved in the club’s history. No one can erase that history and [I’m] just proud of my time there and making lots of friendships with many, many Gasheads. But I’ll still be there. I’ll go back. I’ll watch games on the terraces.
“For me, it’s quite difficult and sad but like I said, a new chapter begins for Rovers.
“I’ve promised a lot of people I’ll be going into the Thatcher’s End which has been a dream of mine for nearly nine years now,” he added. “I can’t wait to realise that goal. But yeah, I just can’t wait to be back watching from the terraces or from wherever and supporting Rovers.”
Al Saeed has been associated with the Gas for almost 18 months having purchased a 55 per cent stake in the club’s holding company Dwane Sports in August 2023.
The Kuwaiti has outlined ambitious plans for the football club, targeting promotion to the Championship within three years as well as making the decision to redevelop the Memorial Stadium as opposed to building a new stadium at the Fruit Market site. There are also plans in place to expand the Quarters too.
However, Rovers wouldn’t be in the position to take the next step without the services of Al Qadi who first came into the club in February 2016 when Dwane Sports purchased a 92 per cent stake in the club before taking full control in summer 2020.
That first season ended in promotion from League Two to League One with the Gas spending the majority of the Jordanian’s time at the helm in the third tier. They did, of course, have to bounce back in the 2021/22 campaign after relegation in 2021 but did so in remarkable style with the legendary 7-0 victory over Scunthorpe on the final day.
However, Al Qadi admitted that his favourite of the two promotions was actually the first one when Rovers beat Dagenham & Redbridge at the Mem before having to wait for results elsewhere to come through. After promotion had been confirmed, the Gas owner made his way down Gloucester Road to celebrate with supporters.
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“There are many but I mean, the 2016 promotion,” the Rovers club president admitted when asked what his favourite memory of his tenure was. “Those six minutes to hear the results come through. A lot of people would say the 7-0 but actually it was the game before that at Rochdale which was just an incredible moment and the whole run up to that. The whole season of that promotion year was quite epic.
“When the first promotion happened and my brother was watching from the Thatchers End and after we got promoted he came back with this incredible smile and extremely happy look. He’s not as much of a football fan as me and he was like ‘that was the best moment of my life’ and I’m like ‘ I’m the football fan here. I should be experiencing that, not you.’
“I wanted to go and celebrate. They told me not to go but I’m glad I didn’t listen to them. Although I did get soaked by all sorts of alcoholic beverages. It was just great celebrating with everyone and, again, in 2022, even the players went out and soaked it all in. So yeah, epic, epic memories there.
“I think that the club kept going through difficult times,” he added on his proudest achievements. “I’m proud that the club didn’t get into any administration problems or point deduction problems or any negative stuff you hear at other clubs. So I consider that as a proud moment. Of course, there have been many, many other good memories and times. Especially, the two promotions. The training ground was a big moment in the club’s history and I’m proud of that. The South Stand is also quite an achievement.
“Like I said, many ups and most of all the connection, the friendships with the Gasheads and people who support the club. Lots of really beautiful memories to take away with me.
“I had a nice, beautiful run. I think that the achievements, the ups and downs, the memories, the promotions, everything will go down in history and nobody can erase that.
“For me, I think it’s the right time for the majority holder to have a go and his run at it and all I can say is I wish him the very best of luck and I will be supporting him as a Gashead from the terraces and hoping that we can achieve our dreams.”