Coleraine's 24-year-old new majority owner Henry Ross has declared that he wants to transform the Bannsiders into the leading club in the Irish League. The north west outfit hit the headlines earlier this week when the Belfast Telegraph exclusively revealed that they were signing Linfield star Joel Cooper in a move that shocked football here and now Coleraine have made a big announcement about a change to the structure of the ownership model. In a statement on Thursday morning Coleraine FC outlined "a transformative new chapter" with young property developer Ross becoming "the club’s majority owner, following a significant investment.". It's an extraordinary development for one so young to become the owner of a football club and continues a remarkable year of change for Coleraine. Back in February businessmen Ranald McGregor-Smith and Patrick Mitchell and their company Bannsiders Holdings took over the club with the aim to invest well over a million pounds. The Showgrounds side then had a managerial switch with Oran Kearney moving into a Sporting Director role and Dean Shiels becoming Head Coach. The team moved to a full-time operation with a host of popular part-time players leaving and now Ross has become the main man at Coleraine having initially joined the club in October to offer financial backing. It is understood since then Ross has taken a keen interest in all aspects of the football club and is determined to move it forward in the future. They currently lie in eighth position in the Premiership table and his intention is to take them to the number one spot. There had been rumours in the town recently about financial issues at Coleraine but in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph earlier this month chairman Colin McKendry insisted that, having spoken to the owners, the club was 'financially stable'. Then came the stunning move for the best player in the Irish League, Cooper, which saw him agree a pre-contract with Coleraine after Linfield were unable to negotiate a deal to keep him with his current Blues contract up at the end of the season. While landing the 28-year-old winger on a free transfer in the summer, it is understood Coleraine will make a bid for Cooper in an attempt to sign him in January though at present Linfield are keen to keep the player until the end of the campaign knowing how important he is to their title bid. Along with a host of other clubs from both sides of the border Coleraine have also been in the market to try and sign Northern Ireland's Gavin Whyte, who is a free agent after leaving Portsmouth in August and coming home to Belfast for family reasons. These are signals of intent about where Ross, Shiels, Kearney and the club want to go with other signings expected in the January window. Coleraine's statement read: "Coleraine FC is thrilled to announce a transformative new chapter as Henry Ross becomes the club’s majority owner, following a significant investment. "Previously a minority shareholder, Henry has now made a substantial additional commitment to the club, driven by his ambition to establish Coleraine FC as the biggest club in the Irish League while strengthening its deep connection to the local community. "With this investment, Henry has reaffirmed his vision to elevate Coleraine FC to unprecedented heights, ensuring it becomes a beacon of pride and inspiration for fans and supporters across the region." Sharing his plans, Henry said: "While staying true to our values, my ambition is to establish Coleraine FC as the leading club in the Irish League and a pioneer in both on-pitch performance and community engagement. We want to inspire not only our loyal supporters but also the entire region by creating opportunities and setting standards that reflect the vibrancy and potential of the Causeway Coast and Glens. Together, we will achieve greatness that resonates far beyond the pitch.” The Coleraine statement added that 'Henry took the opportunity to recognise the instrumental roles of Patrick Mitchell and Ranald McGregor-Smith in laying the foundation for the club’s recent success. Their leadership and vision during the initial takeover in February 2024 were pivotal in positioning Coleraine FC for this next phase of growth. Both Patrick and Ranald will continue to play active roles within the club as material shareholders and directors, ensuring that the vision they helped create is fully realised." Coleraine FC CEO Simon Magee said: "Henry’s ambitious vision for Coleraine FC, combined with Patrick and Ranald’s continued contributions and our current board creates an incredibly strong leadership team. Their shared passion for this club and the wider community will drive Coleraine FC forward. From building a competitive squad to investing in world-class facilities that will benefit the entire region, their leadership promises to take the club to new heights. This is an incredibly exciting time for everyone associated with Coleraine FC.” The statement continued: "Backed by Henry’s bold leadership, the ongoing commitment of Patrick and Ranald, the unwavering support of fans, and the collective pride of the wider community, Coleraine FC is ready to embark on a transformative journey. While honouring its rich history, the club is determined to achieve unprecedented success both on and off the pitch, becoming a powerhouse in Northern Irish football and a symbol of excellence for the region." McGregor-Smith told Sunday Life Sport in February that it would be his dream for the Bannsiders to become champions - a feat only achieved once before in 1974 – and ideally by 2027 which is the club’s centenary year. He told the Belfast Telegraph this month: "We never expected to win the league this year but be clear it is still a goal.” It will be the same for new majority owner Ross.