Rochdale AFC have this week revealed their “preferred investor” as they look for someone to take over the Greater Manchester club.
Having been relegated from the EFL after 102 years in May 2023 and with their financial struggles worsening in 2024, the National League side has now named local businessman Sir Peter Ogden as the man they hope will complete a full buyout.
It was only last month that club chairman Simon Gauge confirmed The Dale needed a “£2 million cash injection” and now the period of exclusivity with World Soccer Holdings LLC – the Texas-based company that initially saved them from liquidation – they are now hoping the Rochdale-born and bred will swoop in.
Ogden is one of the founders of Computacenter, one of the UK’s largest computer businesses and also founded a trust of the same name along with his wife, Lady Catherine Ogden, with both still playing a key role in the local community, as well as physics and education.
Following the expiration of a period of exclusivity with World Soccer Holdings LLC, Rochdale AFC is delighted to announce that it has been approached by, and has subsequently confirmed, the Ogden Family as its preferred investor in the Club.#RAFC
British multi-millionaire Sir Peter Ogden has been named as Rochdale’s preferred investor.
Although World Soccer Holdings have now submitted an official letter of intent of their own as they hope to make their control permanent, the Ogden family have now shared a lengthy statement detailing how they hope to bolster the club should the takeover go ahead.
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“We are a family with strong Rochdale roots… Our charity, the Ogden Trust, which primarily supports the teaching and learning of physics in under-represented groups, has various ongoing initiatives in Rochdale schools.”
“We were made aware of the Club’s difficulties in recent weeks, and we held constructive initial meetings with the Club and the Dale Supporters Trust. We have since been monitoring the situation while the Club has been in exclusive discussions with WSH LLC. We were informed that the exclusivity period has expired and have since stepped up our discussions and diligence efforts.”
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It goes on to describe the team andthe Rochdale AFC Community Trustas“assets of immense value which need to survive”, insisting that they intend to make a full offer once they have carried out their due diligence and “all stakeholders have sufficient chance to review and consider our proposal.”
Acknowledging that time is not on their side, the potential investors have also confirmed that emergency funds have been released to Rochdale to allow them to continue operating over the next month or so as they prepare an official investment offer before the end of the season.
The statement also assures that this period will allow them to formulate long-term plans for both the first team and academy operations, signing off by insisting they will be keeping “the interests of the community at heart.”
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As for WSH, they have previously assured they want to properly invest in the club, reiterating in their letter of intent: “We could not let 100 years of history go to waste, and we believe we can work together to elevate the Dale back to its previous heights and beyond.”
With Gauge having already warned that internal finances are unlikely to last much longer, a decision will have to be made soon.
Details released of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners while Mayor
Emily Sergeant
Details of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester have been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed on the situation a little first, Manchester City was found guilty back in September all of its charges related to the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and on top of that, was also found guilty of the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.
According to the Premier League, the independent Commission found that Manchester City had arranged so-called ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors.
These were part of a disguised funding scheme – with those sponsors only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees.
The remainder was then funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
The Commission also concluded, as quoted by the Premier League, that the club had ‘made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the Premier League investigation’.
Within the past week or so, it has since come to light that now-Prime Minister Andy Burnham had dealings with Manchester City during his tenure as Greater Manchester Mayor, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has now issued a public statement, giving details on the matter and what these ‘dealings’ entailed.
A spokesperson for GMCA confirmed that Burnham had a ‘formal meeting’ with Man City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, back in October 2021.
The statement reads in full: “In October 2021, Andy Burnham, in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, had a formal meeting with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the UK Government’s Global Investment Summit arranged by the Department for International Trade.
“In his capacity as Mayor, he was a guest of Manchester City FC at home matches on a small number of occasions, including attending Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match in September 2019, where he met the Chairman informally in the stands. These have been declared in the usual way.
“Also during his time as Mayor, representatives of Greater Manchester sporting clubs would routinely join business delegations as part of Mayoral international visits.
“This included representatives from Manchester United travelling to Austin and Dublin, Lancashire Cricket Club joining a delegation to India, and Manchester City FC staff supporting visits to China and Japan.”
Featured Image – Lauren Hurley / Number 10 Downing Street (Press Image via Flickr)
Sport
Multiple arrests made for ‘tragedy chanting’ and police officer assault as Man City defeated Liverpool
Emily Sergeant
Multiple people were arrested over the weekend as Manchester City defeated Liverpool in a Premier League clash.
Merseyside Police have confirmed that a total of 10 people were arrested during the policing operation at Liverpool’s home ground of Anfield as they hosted Manchester City on Sunday 11 October.
One man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police constable, five were on suspicion of tragedy chanting, one on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, two for affray, and one on suspicion of throwing items onto the pitch.
Police are now appealing to the public, and are particularly looking to speak to witnesses of the assault of the officer.
At around 6:35pm, as fans left the stadium, a police officer sustained a ‘serious facial injury’ during the arrest of a man on Anfield Road, and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment but is now recovering at home.
Investigating officers are now conducting enquiries, speaking to witnesses, and analysing CCTV and camera phone footage.
Chief Inspector Leanne Hobin said it’s ‘extremely disappointing’ that an officer has sustained a serious injury while carrying out their duty.
“I hope the arrests send a clear message and act as a deterrent to others,” Chief Inspector Hobin continued. “Anyone who engages in this abhorrent behaviour risks ending up in custody and getting a criminal record.
“Despite the actions of a few, the overwhelming majority of the 60,000 fans in attendance behaved well and I want to thank them for their co-operation.”
Manchester City ended up defeated Liverpool 3-0 during the Premier League clash at Anfield.
Danny Jones -
26th March 2024 
