Forest Green Rovers’ Dale Vince’s fortunes change for the better

I have followed with interest the fortunes of Gloucestershire based Forest Green Rovers (the first eco-friendly, vegetarian football club) ever since their unconventional owner, Dale Vince, made headlines in March 2015.

Back then he was challenging the right of his former wife (from whom he had been separated and then divorced from for 30 odd years) to bring claims for substantial financial remedies.

They had had a short marriage and his fortune from a wind turbine energy business had been made entirely after their divorce. Wyatt (Vince’s ex wife) originally demanded a £1.9m settlement which Lord Wilson said had been unwise. However she was then successfully awarded a “modest” £300,000 in a decision that Dale Vice described as “mad” and “could signal open season for people who had brief relationships a quarter of a century ago.”

How to avoid a claim against your future wealth

The case generated a good deal of comment and highlighted the need for separating couples to not only to get the actual divorce but also to obtain a financial consent order that includes dismissals of future financial claims (often called ‘clean breaks’). As we have highlighted in previous blogs the cost of this order may be far outweighed by the financial consequences of not having one in the future.

Although Dale Vince lost his case in 2015 but I was happy to read that his football team won their Vanarama National play-off final on Sunday meaning that Forest Green Rovers will be the Football League’s newest, smallest and no doubt greenest club next season.