‘Moneyball’ Beane in Chinese-led Barnsley takeover

LONDON: A consortium led by Chinese investor Chien Lee and baseball statistics pioneer Billy Beane has taken over Barnsley, the English second-tier club announced.

American investors Paul Conway and Grace Hung are also investing in the English Championship club from South Yorkshire in northern England.

Barnsley’s new patrons take over from the longstanding owner Patrick Cryne, who in September revealed he has terminal cancer.

“The club have gained English Football League approval for the change in majority shareholder and our new shareholders have now taken up their positions on the board of Barnsley Football Club,” Barnsley said in a statement.

Beane found fame by using statistical analysis to find undervalued talent – a practice known as “sabermetrics” – as general manager of baseball team the Oakland A’s.

His story was told in the 2011 film “Moneyball” starring Brad Pitt.

Chien Lee, founder and chairman of investment firm New City Capital, bought 80% of French club Nice last year.

He sits on the board at the Ligue 1 club alongside Conway, who leads Pacific Media Group along with Hung.

Chien Lee and Conway will become co-chairmen at Barnsley, who spent one season in the English Premier League in 1997-98 and currently sit 20th in England’s 24-team Championship.

Barnsley are the fourth Championship team to fall under Chinese control after Aston Villa, Birmingham and league leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers.