Interesting....

[TommyC]

I presume this is/was the "Sequentia" deal that JR wanted to do but Terry and Dick vetoed?

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2025/06/10/businessman-showed-ruthlessness-in-expressing-interest-in-buying-doncaster-rovers-a-month-after-he-went-bankrupt-court-told/

[BillyStubbsTears]

Thank God for Bramall and Watson.

Imagine the catastrophe if that crook had got hold of the club.

[Bessie Red]

Wasn't he involved somehow at the time Richardson sold up to Westferry.

[TommyC]

Yes Kevin Phelan was associated with Westferry back in 98/99. He set up Westferry as a vehicle for Denis O'brien to buy the Rovers back in 1999 or whenever it was that Richardson finally sold up. O"Brien/Westferry kept the lease and I believe the footballing assets were then sold to JR.

But yes you're correct, Phelan was involved way back when Richardson sold out.

[Pinter777]

A weird one, John obviously knew him previously, so he would of had no reason to doubt him , I would have imagined though John would have done his due diligence?

[robchester]

All those people calling Bramall and Watson at the time owe them an apology.

[BobG]

That was a deep, deep, convoluted and dirty conspiracy. It would have killed Rovers. I don't know who or how or why it was stopped, but whoever it was, every one of us owes a huge debt to him or her.


BobG
Later: just thought.Was it stopped because Denis O'Brien got arrested?

[DearneValleyRover]

The main people Bob rarely post on here anymore and were more than berated at the time for protecting the club

[Pinter777]

Was always touted as an Irish consortium, so one would assume O’Brien, but then why wouldn’t he have bought club in the 90s?

I might always be mentioning it but somewhere in my gut, the money man behind Doncaster city fc might worth looking into. Vanity project ? Or revenge? Worthy of a book.

[TommyC]

I think the thrust of the article is that there was no backer behind Phelan. It was Phelan himself that lied to JR and claimed to have the backing of a Belize based millionaire investor when it subsequently transpired that there was no such person. The prosecution in this latest case at Leeds Crown Court have produced in evidence documentary proof that Phelan lied to JR about the existence of the Belize/Sequentia backer,  in an attempt to take over the club himself.

[DD]

I remember being berated by the rank & file Rovers fans at a meeting held by “Uncle Ken” during a public meeting held at the “Lonsdale”.
Uncle Ken asked for a show of hands when, following his announcement that DMBC had made an offer to him of £50k for the club & ground - he asked the question “Should we accept?” Mine was the only arm in the air. I was aware at the time of his background / Flockton Grey etc - after which I became a close ally of Andy Liney
Grim days!

[RobTheRover]

All those people calling Bramall and Watson at the time owe them an apology.

And the VSC too.   We placed ourselves in the firing line as Supporters Trusts do at times like that.  Remember JR going on Radio Sheffield and talking about the "Pesky Vikings"? Remember the chants of "F*ck the VSC" from fans who thought we were the bad guys in this tale?

We will be making a statement on it in due course.

[RobTheRover]

I think the thrust of the article is that there was no backer behind Phelan. It was Phelan himself that lied to JR and claimed to have the backing of a Belize based millionaire investor when it subsequently transpired that there was no such person. The prosecution in this latest case at Leeds Crown Court have produced in evidence documentary proof that Phelan lied to JR about the existence of the Belize/Sequentia backer,  in an attempt to take over the club himself.

It will all come out once this court action concludes. The court case in Leeds has been followed for a couple of months now.

[BobG]

I'm all agog Rob. O'Brien is in this. Being a canny man he always works through cut outs. But the Irish press have had their claws into him for a long time now. Read that over the last several years and there's a lot about his involvement with the Rovers, Westferry and Phelan. The latest instalment of news will be more than interesting.

BobG

[RobTheRover]

For those not familiar, look up The Moriarty Tribunal.

[Glyn_Wigley]

All those people calling Bramall and Watson at the time owe them an apology.

And the VSC too.   We placed ourselves in the firing line as Supporters Trusts do at times like that.  Remember JR going on Radio Sheffield and talking about the "Pesky Vikings"? Remember the chants of "F*ck the VSC" from fans who thought we were the bad guys in this tale?

We will be making a statement on it in due course.

I remember JR claiming in the DFP that the VSC 'ambushed' him at a public VSC meeting when he was asked pertinent questions about this that he wasn't expecting. I might be remembering this wrong, but wasn't it the case that it was JR himself that wanted to be there?

[redwine]

All those people calling Bramall and Watson at the time owe them an apology.

And the VSC too.   We placed ourselves in the firing line as Supporters Trusts do at times like that.  Remember JR going on Radio Sheffield and talking about the "Pesky Vikings"? Remember the chants of "F*ck the VSC" from fans who thought we were the bad guys in this tale?

We will be making a statement on it in due course.

I remember JR claiming in the DFP that the VSC 'ambushed' him at a public VSC meeting when he was asked pertinent questions about this that he wasn't expecting. I might be remembering this wrong, but wasn't it the case that it was JR himself that wanted to be there?

If that was the case he obviously didn't prepare properly.

[silent majority]

All those people calling Bramall and Watson at the time owe them an apology.

And the VSC too.   We placed ourselves in the firing line as Supporters Trusts do at times like that.  Remember JR going on Radio Sheffield and talking about the "Pesky Vikings"? Remember the chants of "F*ck the VSC" from fans who thought we were the bad guys in this tale?

We will be making a statement on it in due course.

I remember JR claiming in the DFP that the VSC 'ambushed' him at a public VSC meeting when he was asked pertinent questions about this that he wasn't expecting. I might be remembering this wrong, but wasn't it the case that it was JR himself that wanted to be there?

Yes, and that was just the start.

But as Rob has mentioned we will issue a full statement when the verdicts are announced. We have been aware of the Police investigation for the last 10 years or so.

[Bentley Bullet]

Isn't a 10-year police investigation an exceptionally long time?

Doesn't that raise concerns about the efficiency and effectiveness of the investigation?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I would guess when the individual continued to commit wrongdoings and new evidence is found by different police forces and investigating authorities it re-opens 'A can of worms' where his deeds (and others) unfortunately bring our club into the spotlight.

[BobG]

And it's got lots of international ramifications, offshore and secretive banking trails, and, a lot of money, influence and power to overcome. Personally, I'm impressed they’ve got this far.

BobG

[Glyn_Wigley]

Isn't a 10-year police investigation an exceptionally long time?

Doesn't that raise concerns about the efficiency and effectiveness of the investigation?

I'd call it thoroughness in getting all the ducks in a row.

[silent majority]

Isn't a 10-year police investigation an exceptionally long time?

Doesn't that raise concerns about the efficiency and effectiveness of the investigation?

I'd call it thoroughness in getting all the ducks in a row.

It is that of course, but I would also add that the initial post on this topic is incorrect. Let’s wait and see.

[DonnyOsmond]

JR gives off Trump vibes.

[IDM]

So do I, after a night on the beer and a decent ruby.!