Failure to pay players and staff and takeover talks is something we’re more used to seeing at clubs like Southend, Bury, and Oldham rather than Rochdale. This week has seen that change
It’s been some week at Dale with reports coming through online from reliable journalist Pete O’Rourke that Rochdale players and staff have only been paid 25% of their wages for November amid an "imminent takeover”
https://x.com/SportsPeteO/status/1729125733677826507?s=20
Quite understandably this caused a bit of worry among supporters as it’s not something we’ve ever seen at Rochdale. Some on Twitter, or whatever Elon Musk calls it these days, suggested it was down to a change in payroll date but with a lack of any form of statement or response from Rochdale AFC, speculation was allowed to spread like wildfire.
Since then, it’s been discovered that there has been what seems like a very significant change on Companies House records for the club, with a company called JNG Capital Group Limited listing their registered address as the Crown Oil Arena, Sandy Lane, Rochdale.
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/15312707
There are three people listed under this company with their registered address also at the club, Nicholas Brayne, James Lawrance and Garry Strong.
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/15312707/offi
Quick Google/LinkedIn searches suggest that James Lawrance has had dealings with AFC Fylde, in terms of sponsorship and that former Rochdale loanee Guy Branston has links with the men listed above and may even be working with them. It has been said by several people that Guy Branston has been at recent games up at Spotland.
https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/official-club-partner-lawrance-capital-become-front-o
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7128378756498386946?utm_sou
The company Branston lists here Darnoc Group, has Nicholas Brayne listed for it and another company, Challenger SG Limited has Guy Branston, Nicholas Brayne and Garry Strong all listed as shown in the link below:
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/15248344/offi
I’m not business minded enough to be able to dissect all this and explain it and I’m certain that if you look on our forum that many others will be able to offer more than we can (looking at you RAFCBLUE), but this very much points to Pete O’Rourke’s suggestion of an "imminent takeover”, given these changes on Companies House were only registered on 28th November, or ‘yesterday’ as I type this.
It's not yet known what the Dale Trust think of this. This will all be subject to NDA's but the Trust did state the following from their meeting with the board last week:
The club are quietly optimistic with the latest group of investors, but unfortunately, in respecting the NDA in existence, are unable to provide any names or timescales at this point. Exclusivity has not been granted but lawyers are currently involved.
It was reiterated that the club will consult with the Trust before anything is announced publicly and that the Trust board director is made aware of all investor discussions.
https://www.daletrust.co.uk/2023/11/trust-meeting-with-the-club-23-11-2023-repor
There’s been no comment, or statement from the football club but it certainly looks like we’re in for a very interesting few weeks at Rochdale.
Buckle up people!