Former West Brom and Sunderland star 'leading consortium' for shock club takeover

Former West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe is reportedly attempting to buy English fifth-tier side Gateshead FC.

The 36-year-old was a Premier League forward back in his hay day as he racked up 204 appearances, 27 goals and 11 assists in the English top flight. Anichebe turned out most for Everton as he played 168 times for the Toffees before signing for West Brom, where he made 63 appearances and scored nine goals between 2013 and 2016. He then spent one year at Sunderland.

Anichebe has been out of football since his retirement in 2017 at the age of 29 but he’s expected to make a stunning return to the game, not on the pitch but rather in the boardroom.

Gateshead have long been due a takeover as they have been fan-owned since 2019, when they were relegated from the National League after being found to have financial irregularities under their old owners. The Tynesiders have been back in the fifth tier for nearly three years following their 2021/22 National League North title win under Mike Williamson’s stewardship.

The Heed have twice been to Wembley Stadium since, competing in back-to-back FA Trophy finals, losing 1-0 to Halifax Town in 2023 before getting redemption in 2024 with a penalty shootout victory over Solihull Moors. There was also a near miss in the play-offs last season as the Tynesiders qualified but were then denied their place due to a leasing issue for the Gateshead International Stadium.

All of this recent success has made Gateshead a rather attractive club on the market, with Anichebe among interested parties. Our sister publication, Sunderland Echo, reports the former striker has ambitions to get Gateshead to the football league and is heading up a Nigerian consortium to buy the club as a result.

Anichebe already preparing for Gateshead completion

Meanwhile, Chronicle Live reports Anichebe has been spotted at the International Stadium this month, including after the recent 3-1 home defeat to Braintree Town. It’s also suggested the Nigerian has been setting up future transfers with the agents of several players, eager to get a head start before his hopeful takeover completion.

In line with this theory, Yeovil manager Mark Cooper recently claimed somebody had agreed a deal to sign one of his players, Frank Nouble, on behalf of Gateshead without actually being in charge of the club.

“I think this person did a deal with Frank's agent, which obviously unsettled Frank,” Cooper said, via Chronicle Live. “It would do because he had a good deal going to Gateshead. And then, it went quiet. We then found out that there was no deal.

"The person doing the deal with Frank's agent and Frank had no jurisdiction to do the deal, because as far as I'm aware he doesn't yet own Gateshead. Really disappointing from Gateshead's side of it and feel sorry for Frank really but he wanted to go. He made it clear he wanted to go and play for Gateshead, we granted that wish but it's fell through so we'll wait to see what happens."