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Comment: The £400,000 earned from the sale of Ollie Rathbone to Rotherham in August
Fact: The fee was undisclosed.
Comments: In 2019-20, Rochdale played an EFL Cup tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford. They went on an FA Cup run that included two televised games, one of which, against Newcastle, went to a replay at St James' Park. In addition, they earned £750,000 from the sale of teenager Luke Matheson to Wolves. From this bonanza, the club made a £1.5m profit.
Fact: At the AGM on 1 June 2021, Nick Grindrod said that the club expected a loss in 2020/21 of over £1m due to Covid. The 2019/20 accounts file (and then amended) at Companies House only showed a profit of £1.36m
Comment: Their focus was more on a decent training facilities. The club do not own a training ground and their academy, on which so much importance rests in terms of generating revenue, use local school pitches and an external indoor facility.
Fact: David Bottomley stood up at the AGM and suggested that investment was needed to make Rochdale think about own their training ground. The examples he cited were Fleetwood Town, Reading and Doncaster Rovers. Bottomley was voted off the Board at that meeting.
Comment: It is estimated that between 2018 and 2021, between 15 and 25 non-disclosure agreements were issued to interested parties.
Fact: The only people who would be able to estimate that would be those on the Board between 2018 and 2021. It is noteworthy that David Bottomley was the CEO throughout that time.
Comment: The board thought they had found the right man in entrepreneur and motorbike team owner Martin Halsall. Another businessman Andrew Curran had been identified as "a very useful backstop".
Fact: On 1 June 2021 at the AGM, David Bottomley clearly stated to a room full of shareholders that no decision on any future owner had been made.
Comment: When Halsall backed away, Curran and his Morton House group became the board's number one choice.
Fact: This is false. In the Manchester Evening News on 12 August 2021 Mr Andrew Curran was quoted as follows:
"It is clear our acquisition of shares in Rochdale AFC cannot under any circumstances be likened to the situations at Bury and other clubs which have been left weakened from owners.
"If anything the board will be the demise of Rochdale AFC if they continue to act in the manner in which they have been."
Comment: It was the club's responsibility to submit the paperwork. This was not done and an essential element of becoming a significant club shareholder was never completed.
Fact: The EFL test require the prospective owner to complete the paperwork.
Comment: In June, at a five-hour meeting, Rochdale directors David Bottomley and Graham Rawlinson were voted off the board by shareholders. No representatives of Morton House were allowed into the meeting because their purchase had not been recognised.
Fact: Morton House were not shareholders on 1 June 2021 so could not legally have been allowed to attend the AGM or EGM meetings held.
Comment: With the atmosphere turning increasingly toxic, Curran stepped away.
Fact: The EFL launched an investigation into Morton House on 21 August, at which point Morton House withdrew. A number of directors of Morton House subsequently resigned their ownership. The EFL investigation, as of right now, is still ongoing.
Comment: BBC Sport understands Southall, who has recently moved to Dubai with his family, has no desire to get involved in the day-to-day running of Rochdale.
Fact: Matthew Southall, a non-shareholder, threatened the club with the High Court if they did not cancel the EGM.
We are happy to enter positive discussions with the Board. We suggest a meeting next week.
Unfortunately, the Board has initiated an EGM with the sole intention of seeking to dilute our shareholding. We have taken legal advice upon that process and the Board will receive correspondence from our Solicitors within the next 24 hours.
The correspondence will insist that the Board sends notice to all shareholders of the cancellation of the EGM on Monday 4 October.
If the Board try to proceed with the EGM, we are advised by the lawyers to start legal proceedings in The High Court to obtain an Injunction on Tuesday to ensure that the meeting does not proceed. We do not want to do that, but if the Board do not cancel the meeting, we will, and will also seek an order that the Directors who initiated the EGM pay the costs.
I stress that this is not a route that we want to take, but if the Board refuse to act in a co-operative manner, we will be left with no choice. The decision to call an EGM was a poorly conceived and unhelpful tactic which individual Directors will be held to account for, if they chose to proceed.
The best starting point for a constructive discussion is for the Board to immediately — this weekend — cancel the EGM. We will see this as a very positive and sensible move; and we can sit down and talk next week to explore all options with the Board. A pre-condition of commercial discussions with the Board, is confidentiality. You will understand that placing commercial discussions into the public domain is very unhelpful.
We are keen to reach a solution as soon as possible. We are sure that positive discussions can take place in the next week or shortly thereafter, so long as we can undertake the discussions without the need to tell the lawyers to commence action on Tuesday and on the basis that we are not going to read what we have discussed in confidence with the Board, half an hour later on the internet.
We look forward to your urgent response.
Regards
Matt Southall
Comment: However, it is also known Southall has an agreement to increase his stake in Dale should Morton House get hold of Kelly's shares - which are now the subject of a legal dispute - and take its holding over 50%.
Fact: This ackwlodgement, published by the BBC, is a breach of EFL rules on change of control
Comment: Southall feels there is no reason why he would fail the EFL owners and directors' test. Rochdale's fans, prompted by Charlton supporters who have highlighted negativity, are keen to make sure it does not get that far and are determined to keep Southall away.
Comment: Morton House have refused to cooperate with the EFL inquiry. However, the EFL have already interviewed a number of significant people involved in the situation and their work is on-going. According to their regulations, deals done without seeking prior approval when required are regarded as misconduct, which has the potential to attract fines for individuals depending on who is viewed as being responsible.
Fact: Whoever has briefed the BBC knows more than the EFL about the process and therefore, you must assume, be one of the parties who have been interviewed by the EFL.
Conclusion:
I've read some sh*te journalism in my time but Simon Stone has won the award for worst and most inaccurate article this year.
What he has done is drop someone in it on the basis that the EFL investigations are disclosed, which themselves must be a hint that they themselves, individually and collectively are involved in the disciplinary investigations still ongoing.
George Bernard Shaw had it right:
"He who can does; he who cannot, teaches."
https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/
The board would be within its rights to ban the BBC's journalists from the ground for that POS. Good grief, the very idea that the people trying to con their way into the club were in any way respectable or worthy of column inches in any respect other than an explanation of where their money was coming from is beyond laughable. The BBC is rapidly losing all credibility as a news organisation and has become nothing more than a politically correct, governmental mouthpiece.
4
Shocking BBC article. on 20:51 - Oct 12 with 7300 views
I think it’s more than shocking. The facts have intentionally misrepresented to make Morton House look like they are the victims and the clubs current board are at fault.
In June, at a five-hour meeting, Rochdale directors David Bottomley and Graham Rawlinson were voted off the board by shareholders. No representatives of Morton House were allowed into the meeting because their purchase had not been recognised.
We know directly from Curran that his interest in the club was only renewed when Bottemley contacted Curran after the EGM.
I think there is hidden agenda here!!
2
Shocking BBC article. on 20:53 - Oct 12 with 7271 views
Shocking BBC article. on 20:24 - Oct 12 by 442Dale
Where would the information around our budget, season ticket sales revenue and transfer fees have come from?
The club are well within their rights to contact the journalist’s employers on whose website the story is being carried to establish these “facts”.
There are some very good laws on what you can and can't write in the public domain 442.
That Simon Stone article has so many factual inaccuracies in it, it is truly embarrassing.
What he has done though, rather helpfully, if state things that are only known by a handful of Board Directors who served between 2018 and 2021 (dates quoted by Simon Stone in his article).
Now, EFL investigations are ongoing so only those who have been summoned to appear will know they have been summoned but you would have to think that that extends to those the EFL have named and those who may have been in a position to facilitate and deal because of their positions on the Board.
The EFL, who will have had representations or at the very least will have a field day with that article. It's possibly done us a favour because it is so incorrect that there are only a small number of places it could have come from.
It's not as if the BBC or Alexander Jarvis or David Bottomley can take that article down now. It is in the public domain forever.
George Bernard Shaw had it right:
"He who can does; he who cannot, teaches."
https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/
Shocking BBC article. on 20:44 - Oct 12 by 49thseason
The board would be within its rights to ban the BBC's journalists from the ground for that POS. Good grief, the very idea that the people trying to con their way into the club were in any way respectable or worthy of column inches in any respect other than an explanation of where their money was coming from is beyond laughable. The BBC is rapidly losing all credibility as a news organisation and has become nothing more than a politically correct, governmental mouthpiece.
Agree with every single word but one. The idea the BBC are a mouthpiece for the government is itself laughable
Stone needs challenging further over this though. His career as a journalist depends upon his ability to dig beneath the superficial and check his sources. At the moment, he's failing and it needs to be highlighted to allow him to improve
“ The plan had been for Morton House to take a majority stake in Rochdale through private, independent deals with seven shareholders. But former chairman Andrew Kelly did not complete, which left Morton House with 42%. Individually, none of the six completed transactions were subject to English Football League approval. However, as a whole, they took Morton House above the 30% threshold required for submission to the EFL's owners and directors' test. It was the club's responsibility to submit the paperwork. This was not done and an essential element of becoming a significant club shareholder was never completed.“
0
Shocking BBC article. on 21:01 - Oct 12 with 7208 views
all people who have professional contact details freely available online, and all people who we believe would be interested in understanding how this inaccurate, misleading and damaging article was researched, written, checked & published.
Shocking BBC article. on 20:59 - Oct 12 by wozzrafc
I also wonder if this bit is bordering on liabel?
“ The plan had been for Morton House to take a majority stake in Rochdale through private, independent deals with seven shareholders. But former chairman Andrew Kelly did not complete, which left Morton House with 42%. Individually, none of the six completed transactions were subject to English Football League approval. However, as a whole, they took Morton House above the 30% threshold required for submission to the EFL's owners and directors' test. It was the club's responsibility to submit the paperwork. This was not done and an essential element of becoming a significant club shareholder was never completed.“
Certainly this bit, is a breach of the Companies Act:
The plan had been for Morton House to take a majority stake in Rochdale through private, independent deals with seven shareholders. But former chairman Andrew Kelly did not complete, which left Morton House with 42%.
As shareholders who were present at the 1 June 2021 meeting will attest this was never presented by the then Board.
I'm reminded of Bottomley's Youtube video which stated the aims of the EGM. For those who don't want to search, it is in the public domain here:
I don't recall seeing that on the ballot paper for any of the meetings and I've been back and checked and it definetley doesn't say that on the paperwork that shareholders were sent.
If the plan had been these "private deals" with "seven shareholders" then either:
a) What shareholders were told on 1 June 2021 in the presentation by Mr Bottomley at the start of the evening were falsehoods OR b) Mr Bottomley will be suing the BBC for libel as they have misrepresented what he said to a room of people and a meeting that was recorded on Zoom.
George Bernard Shaw had it right:
"He who can does; he who cannot, teaches."
https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/
A number of people associated with the Morton House bid, including Curran and his relatives, were targeted. Online abuse was vicious.
Seems very clear who is spinning their side of the story here. Does anyone know of any actual examples of this vicious online abuse?? The implication being it came from Dale fans??
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Shocking BBC article. on 21:21 - Oct 12 with 7045 views
Shocking BBC article. on 21:13 - Oct 12 by Cedar_Room
What about this bit:
A number of people associated with the Morton House bid, including Curran and his relatives, were targeted. Online abuse was vicious.
Seems very clear who is spinning their side of the story here. Does anyone know of any actual examples of this vicious online abuse?? The implication being it came from Dale fans??
it feels very one-sided, and maybe reactionary to:
- Oldham fans making it clear that they don't want Mr Bottomley near their club - The EGM not going in the favour or MH or MS
it also makes me think Mr Jarvis maybe attempted to bait people into 'vicious abuse'' by unhiding his twitter momentarily - to try and collect evidence of said abuse before this article was published.
for what its worth, we haven't seen any abuse of Curran, Rose et al - just questioning and reporting of the facts... especially considering how many Currans (& friends) are on social media with open profiles. one of the daughters particularly has spent her time abusing multiple Swindon fans.
we've had contact with a couple of journos this evening from other publications who also can't believe how poor that BBC article is... they may even reference it now in their own upcoming content.
it feels very one-sided, and maybe reactionary to:
- Oldham fans making it clear that they don't want Mr Bottomley near their club - The EGM not going in the favour or MH or MS
it also makes me think Mr Jarvis maybe attempted to bait people into 'vicious abuse'' by unhiding his twitter momentarily - to try and collect evidence of said abuse before this article was published.
for what its worth, we haven't seen any abuse of Curran, Rose et al - just questioning and reporting of the facts... especially considering how many Currans (& friends) are on social media with open profiles. one of the daughters particularly has spent her time abusing multiple Swindon fans.
we've had contact with a couple of journos this evening from other publications who also can't believe how poor that BBC article is... they may even reference it now in their own upcoming content.
[Post edited 12 Oct 2021 21:21]
The giveaway clue that this was penned by Jarvis was how the BBC described Andrew Curran as a "businessman"
Businessman (noun): a man who works in commerce, especially at executive level.
Curran doesn't show up anywhere other than now on the HMRC databases.
Times are so hard that the Rolls Royce Cullinan with the private plate had to go back to its normal one!
George Bernard Shaw had it right:
"He who can does; he who cannot, teaches."
https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/
Its very disappointing to think that a BBC journalist may have been manipulated into an ill thought out PR exercise by either people who were voted out of the club, people who were investigated and told they weren't wanted in the club, someone trying to salvage a failed takeover attempt by their brokerage, or an individual trying to force their way in on the back of a failed takeover.
If the jungle drums are correct and multiple government, legal, football and/or financial agencies have active investigations into any of the 'sources' for this article, both the 'sources' themselves and the BBC (via the journalist) probably haven't done themselves any favours at all.
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Shocking BBC article. on 22:15 - Oct 12 with 6684 views
Shocking BBC article. on 21:53 - Oct 12 by HullDale
Its very disappointing to think that a BBC journalist may have been manipulated into an ill thought out PR exercise by either people who were voted out of the club, people who were investigated and told they weren't wanted in the club, someone trying to salvage a failed takeover attempt by their brokerage, or an individual trying to force their way in on the back of a failed takeover.
If the jungle drums are correct and multiple government, legal, football and/or financial agencies have active investigations into any of the 'sources' for this article, both the 'sources' themselves and the BBC (via the journalist) probably haven't done themselves any favours at all.
And this engineered article comes out at around the same time as Bottom allegedly applies for the Fylde ceo job.
Arf. He still thinks we're small minded stupid people!
This part here suggests to me it is Jarvis/Southall behind the article/sources:
“ Southall feels there is no reason why he would fail the EFL owners and directors' test. Rochdale's fans, prompted by Charlton supporters who have highlighted negativity, are keen to make sure it does not get that far and are determined to keep Southall away. A recent virtual meeting between the two parties found no common ground.
All sides now agree the current picture is one of confusion and legal debate, not helped by the fact there are almost 398,000 'golden shares' lying dormant, which the club could try to raise money by selling.
However, there is uncertainty about whether they have to be offered on a pro-rata basis to current shareholders and, for those currently running the club, that is fraught with problems. If, for instance, Morton House bought 42% of the new shares but some of the rest went unsold, that could take them above the overall 50% threshold that might trigger a sale to Southall.”
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Shocking BBC article. on 23:16 - Oct 12 with 6351 views
Shocking BBC article. on 21:13 - Oct 12 by Cedar_Room
What about this bit:
A number of people associated with the Morton House bid, including Curran and his relatives, were targeted. Online abuse was vicious.
Seems very clear who is spinning their side of the story here. Does anyone know of any actual examples of this vicious online abuse?? The implication being it came from Dale fans??
Vicious abuse ....... does that cover offers to settle matters in a boxing ring? Kettle - pot. Idiots spoon feeding idiots and they take it in like a sponge.
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