Fowler, who is a leading figure in the beverage industry in the United States, has put a “seven-figure” sum into the Imps, who are aiming to clinch a League One play-off spot on the final day of the regular season this weekend.

The investment in a third-tier English football club comes 12 years after Fowler headed a group that took control on the Padres in 2012.

He worked as executive chairman of the MLB side until 2020, then took up the role of vice chairman before his involvement in the club came to an end in 2022.

While Fowler’s backing of the Imps is his first foray into English football, he has previously owned a club – the San Diego Sockers – in the old North American Soccer League.

“It’s great news to have someone so well known and trusted, certainly to myself Clive [Imps chairman Clive Nates] and in particular the Jabara family, who is coming in to assist us with the continued growth of this football club,” Lincoln CEO Scully told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

Scully also revealed the club has already benefited from Fowler’s knowledge after first being introduced by Jabara a number of years ago.

“There are already things he has assisted and helped us with,” Scully said.

Jabara said Fowler’s work at the Padres has “been a model” for his own approach at Lincoln, which he first got involved with in 2021.

“At no time in my professional career has someone reminded me more of my father than Ron Fowler,” Jabara said.

“With that, I have no higher praise for an individual.”