2009–10 Notts County F.C. season

Association football season April 2014 April 2014 Notts County 2009–10 Ian McParland Dave Kevan and Michael Johnson (interim) Hans Backe Dave Kevan (interim) Steve Cotterill John Armstrong-Holmes Peter Trembling Ray Trew League Two 1st (champions) FA Cup Fifth round League Cup First round League Trophy First round Lee Hughes (30) Lee Hughes (33) 11,331 vs Cheltenham Town, 1 May 4,213 vs Bradford City, 6 November _black_stripes _3stripesonwhite _black_stripes H84BC4 000000 ffffff 000000 000000 4169E1 4169E1 4169E1 4169E1 4169E1 2008–09 2010–11 During the 2009–10 English football season, Notts County competed in Football League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. Shortly before the season began, the club was subject to a high-profile takeover by Munto Finance, purportedly a wealthy Middle East-based consortium with ambitions to take the club to the Premier League. The former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson was appointed director of football, and lavish spending began in apparent early efforts to achieve these ambitions. In reality, Munto Finance was controlled by the convicted fraudster Russell King, and the club had been acquired as part of an elaborate scheme to list a fake mining company on the stock exchange. The promised money did not exist, King fled when the scheme collapsed and Notts County were left deeply in debt. Eriksson resigned following a further takeover by Ray Trew, who prevented bankruptcy and oversaw a successful conclusion to the season, with the team winning the League Two championship and promotion to Football League One. The team also fared well in the FA Cup, reaching the last sixteen of the competition. The season saw four different owners, three permanent first-team managers and two spells of interim management. In total, the team played 54 competitive matches, winning 31, drawing 14 and losing nine. Lee Hughes scored 33 goals across all competitions, becoming the first Notts County player to score 30 goals in a season since Tommy Lawton sixty years earlier, while Ben Davies made the most appearances, featuring in 51 games. Munto Finance's takeover and the wider scheme of which it formed a part were investigated by journalists from the beginning. It was the subject of a 2011 episode of the BBC One show Panorama, a BBC Sounds podcast series in 2022, and a documentary for Sky Documentaries in 2025. Notts County continued to experience off-field problems over the following years, culminating in a four-year spell in non-League football between 2019 and 2023; coverage of the club's plight and subsequent attempts to recover often refer to the events of 2009. Background Notts County In the 2009–10 season, Notts County (nicknamed the Magpies) competed in League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, their sixth successive year at this level.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8618004.stm Notts County 4–1 Morecambe BBC Sport 6 March 2024 17 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20230418032833/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8618004.stm 18 April 2023 live The club's time in the fourth tier had been preceded by a serious financial crisis. Between 2002 and 2003, Notts County had spent a record 534 days in administration.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/dec/04/newsstory.sport5 Notts County Saved with Six Days to Spare The Guardian 17 December 2023 4 December 2003 Adrian Milledge https://web.archive.org/web/20140912182640/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/dec/04/newsstory.sport5 12 September 2014 live Bankruptcy was prevented in a takeover largely financed by supporter Haydn Green;Porter 2019 130 as part of the deal, the Notts County Supporters' Trust also gained representation on the board of directors.Conn 2004 188 In 2007, shortly before his death, Green sold his stake in the club to the Trust for £75,000,Porter 2019 130 making the latter the majority shareholder.https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-notts-county-promotion-can-draw-a-line-under-an-unhappy-twenty-years-jason-turner Notts County Promotion Can Draw a Line under an Unhappy 20 Years Football365 17 December 2023 15 May 2023 Ian King https://web.archive.org/web/20230515090346/https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-notts-county-promotion-can-draw-a-line-under-an-unhappy-twenty-years-jason-turner 15 May 2023 live The Trust were not required to pay Green upfront; instead, the £75,000 would only be paid to Green (or his estate after his death) if the Trust sold their shares in the future.Porter 2019 130 The years after exiting administration saw the team consistently struggle. It was relegated to League Two in 2004,Warsop Brown 2007 191 and was in danger of relegation to non-League football before its final game of the 2005–06 season.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/4957558.stm Notts County 2–2 Bury BBC Sport 6 May 2024 6 May 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20160414054633/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/4957558.stm 14 April 2016 live In 2007–08, League Two safety was assured only in a 1–0 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the penultimate game of the season,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/7356118.stm Notts County 1–0 Wycombe BBC Sport 6 May 2024 26 April 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080429102357/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/7356118.stm 29 April 2008 livehttps://www.skysports.com/notts-county-results/2007-08 Notts County Results Sky Sports 13 December 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240515130145/https://www.skysports.com/notts-county-results/2007-08 15 May 2024 live while the following season the team finished 19th.Robinson 2024 1 The sustained poor on-field performance resulted in supporters becoming progressively more unhappy under Trust ownership.Porter 2019 127–128 There were rumours that the club had taken on large loans from unknown individuals in response to financial problems, and the efforts of supporters to find out more were resisted by officials.Porter 2019 128 In April 2009, John Armstrong-Holmes (the club's chairman) and Eric Kerry, the Trust's representatives on the club's board, survived a vote of no confidence, with Armstrong-Holmes arguing that his and Kerry's removal would mean "potential investment may be jeopardised".https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8024826.stm Notts County Chairman to Stay On BBC Sport 17 December 2023 29 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090505033134/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8024826.stm 5 May 2009 live Russell King and associates The Munto Finance takeover of Notts County was orchestrated by Russell King, who had first been convicted of fraud in 1991 after falsely reporting his Aston Martin had been stolen to claim £600,000 in insurance.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60794963 Notts County and the Conman: Following your Team through a Football Scam BBC Sport 25 February 2024 25 March 2022 Ben Robinson https://web.archive.org/web/20220325001149/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60794963 25 March 2022 live Before his involvement in Notts County, King had stolen £671,000 from Belgravia Financial Services Group,Robinson 2024 218 and had acquired a 49% stake in the investment bank First London by falsely claiming he was managing billions of dollars for the Bahraini royal family.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13109493 Fraud Office Looks at Scamming of Sven-Goran Eriksson BBC Sport 9 May 2024 18 April 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110421042251/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13109493 21 April 2011 live The others involved were Nathan Willett and his father Peter, of whom little is known; in 2022, the makers of a BBC podcast series about the takeover were unable to locate even a forwarding address for the pair.The Promised Land Sport's Strangest Crimes: The Trillion Dollar Conman Ben Robinson BBC Sounds 21 February 20220:08:33 Once the takeover was completed, Peter Trembling acted as executive chairman of Notts County; Matt Scott of The Guardian would later describe him as Munto Finance's "mouthpiece".https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/11/notts-county-finances Sven-Goran Eriksson's Exit Rounds Off One of Football's Murkiest Sagas The Guardian 26 May 2024 11 February 2010 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193038/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/11/notts-county-finances 9 March 2021 live Following the takeover's collapse, Trembling maintained that he had been deceived,The Trillion Dollar Con-Man Panorama Andrew Head BBC One 4 May 20110:15:52 and that he had lost much of his own money as a result of the affair.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/13/peter-trembling-notts-county-munto-finance Peter Trembling Vows to Sue Munto Finance over Notts County Losses The Guardian 9 May 2024 13 February 2010 Stuart James https://web.archive.org/web/20200811073728/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/13/peter-trembling-notts-county-munto-finance 11 August 2020 live Pre-season events Takeover While preparing for the 2009–10 season, Notts County were approached by Trembling, who indicated that Munto Finance was interested in buying the club.Robinson 2024 1–2 At a meeting, Trembling told Armstrong-Holmes that Munto Finance were a Middle East-based consortium, and that unspecified royalty was involved.Robinson 2024 7 A further meeting took place in Bahrain between Armstrong-Holmes and Roy Parker (a shareholder in the club and its vice chairman) and representatives of the consortium. According to Armstrong-Holmes, King was in attendance, but played no part in the talks until Armstrong-Holmes demanded a bank guarantee as a condition of a sale, which King soon produced.Robinson 2024 9–10 Unbeknown to Notts County's representatives, the guarantee, which appeared to be from First London, was worthless. It had not been approved by the bank's board and came from a part of the bank that no longer existed.0:15:03 A deal was agreed, with the takeover announced in July 2009. Trembling was appointed as chief executive, and Munto Finance announced its ambition to see Notts County promoted to the Championship within five years.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/14/munto-finance-takeover-notts-county Notts County Takeover Completed by Middle East Consortium The Guardian 18 December 2023 14 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20231218072937/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/14/munto-finance-takeover-notts-county 18 December 2023 live As part of the deal, Munto Finance insisted that it be given ownership of the club for nothing,Robinson 2024 8 and the Trust pushed its members to approve the "gift" of the Trust's shares to the consortium. As this would not be a sale, no money would need to be paid to the estate of Haydn Green. Some supporters protested, questioning whether paying Green's estate would not be the "honourable thing" to do, but Armstrong-Holmes urged Trust members to back the deal, saying that "Haydn Green's position in the club's history is acknowledged and will be honoured by Munto".https://www.theguardian.com/sport/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2009/sep/02/notts-county-takeover Notts County's Revolution Has One Outstanding Debt The Guardian 9 May 2024 2 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20201025202718/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2009/sep/02/notts-county-takeover 25 October 2020 live Trust members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the transfer of the shares, and Munto Finance consequently acquired the club for free.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/25/notts-county-qadbak-takeover Notts County Trust 'should never have handed control to Qadbak' The Guardian 17 December 2023 25 September 2009 David Conn https://web.archive.org/web/20210507183628/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/25/notts-county-qadbak-takeover 7 May 2021 live Chris Porter, who discussed the takeover in a study of fan ownership of football clubs, says that the sale "amounted to an up-front outlay from the would-be recipient of promised future riches", and that the Trust failed to ask why supposedly wealthy investors were unwilling to make a relatively modest initial outlay to buy the club.Porter 2019 130 The identity of those who would be financing the club was shrouded in secrecy,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/22/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county2 Sven-Goran Eriksson Arrives at Notts County as Doubts Cloud Club's Owners The Guardian 17 December 2023 22 July 2009 Owen Gibson https://web.archive.org/web/20150629174224/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/22/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county2 29 June 2015 live but the journalist and Notts County supporter Simon Goodley was soon tipped off about the involvement of King, and he began to investigate.Robinson 2024 21–22 Also soon investigating was Matt Scott, who was encouraged to do so by a source after noting in his column that the takeover had not yet been approved.Robinson 2024 37 Player transfers, arrival of Sven-Göran Eriksson thumb|left|upright|alt=Refer to caption|Sven-Göran Eriksson (pictured in 2012)Notts County had already begun signing players for the 2009–10 season before the takeover, with these players either being from League Two or non-League clubs or joining on loan. Midfielders Neal Bishop, Ben Davies and Ricky Ravenhill joined from Barnet, Shrewsbury Town and Darlington respectively,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8058199.stm Magpies Swoop for Barnet's Bishop BBC Sport 18 December 2023 20 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090527014727/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8058199.stm 27 May 2009 livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8131105.stm Notts Sign Davies from Shrewsbury BBC Sport 21 December 2023 2 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20231221082129/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8131105.stm 21 December 2023 livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8056804.stm Notts Complete Ravenhill Signing BBC Sport 18 December 2023 21 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090522211210/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8056804.stm 22 May 2009 live while Kettering Town striker Craig Westcarr had joined on a one-year deal.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8060385.stm Notts County Net Striker Westcarr BBC Sport 21 December 2023 21 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090522233734/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8060385.stm 22 May 2009 live Also signing pre-takeover were defenders Graeme Lee, who joined the club for an undisclosed fee from Bradford City,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8127001.stm Notts County Sign Bradford's Lee BBC Sport 21 December 2023 30 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160218204949/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8127001.stm 18 February 2016 live and Brendan Maloney, who joined on a six-month loan from Nottingham Forest.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8128106.stm Magpies Swoop for Forest Defender BBC Sport 22 December 2023 1 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090704152645/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8128106.stm 4 July 2009 live In the week after Munto Finance took control of the club, the Magpies announced the signing of two strikers, Lee Hughes and Luke Rodgers, on free transfers from Oldham Athletic and Yeovil Town respectively.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8136197.stm Hughes Signs for Sven's Magpies BBC Sport 21 December 2023 22 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222659/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8136197.stm 12 May 2014 livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8161936.stm Notts County Sign Striker Rodgers BBC Sport 21 December 2023 21 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20231221192959/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8161936.stm 21 December 2023 live On 22 July, Notts announced the appointment of the former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson as director of football in what Stuart James of The Guardian described as "one of the game's most staggering moves of recent times".https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/22/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county Sven-Goran Eriksson Confirmed as Director of Football at Notts County The Guardian 21 December 2023 22 July 2009 Stuart James https://web.archive.org/web/20210309200155/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jul/22/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county 9 March 2021 live Despite Munto Finance's initially stated target of seeing Notts County promoted to the Championship, Eriksson said he wanted to see the club promoted to the Premier League.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8163091.stm Eriksson Aims for Premier League BBC Sport 22 December 2023 21 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090801000736/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8163091.stm 1 August 2009 live Eriksson said he was "particularly attracted to this role and the unique opportunity to help build a club over the longer term". With Eriksson's appointment, Notts began to target, or were linked in the press with, much more high-profile players. At one point, reports suggested the Brazil international and World Cup winner Roberto Carlos might join the club.https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/carlos-linked-with-notts-county-switch-1783189.html Carlos Linked with Notts County Switch The Independent 21 December 2023 7 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090910092825/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/carlos-linked-with-notts-county-switch-1783189.html 10 September 2009 live On another occasion, David Beckham was asked by a radio journalist about the possibility of working with his old England manager.Toy Story Sport's Strangest Crimes: The Trillion Dollar Conman Ben Robinson BBC Sounds 21 February 20220:02:52 The club's final pre-season signing was that of striker Karl Hawley from Preston North End for an undisclosed fee.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8181811.stm Striker Hawley Joins Notts County BBC Sport 9 May 2024 3 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090807004756/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8181811.stm 7 August 2009 live Friendlies To prepare for the new season, the Magpies played a series of friendlies. The first match after Eriksson's arrival, the game against Nottingham Forest at Notts County's Meadow Lane stadium, attracted nearly 13,000 spectators, and saw Eriksson "paraded" before the crowd prior to kick off.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8169146.stm Magpies Beat Forest in Friendly BBC Sport 23 December 2023 26 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090727224336/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8169146.stm 27 July 2009 live Match details Key In result column, Notts County's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match Resultshttps://www.skysports.com/notts-county-results/2009-10 Notts County Results Sky Sports 10 May 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20231223151133/https://www.skysports.com/notts-county-results/2009-10 23 December 2023 live DateOpponentsResult21 July 2009Arnold Town (A) 7–025 July 2009Nottingham Forest (H) 2–128 July 2009Derby County (H) 2–331 July 2009Liverpool XI (H) 2–2 League Two August–October Notts started the season strongly. Hughes scored a hat-trick on the opening day as the Magpies defeated Bradford 5–0 at home with over 9,000 spectators in attendance.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8186374.stm Notts County 5–0 Bradford BBC Sport 24 December 2023 8 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090811003650/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8186374.stm 11 August 2009 live The team won 4–0 at Macclesfield Town in its first away game,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8199993.stm Macclesfield 0–4 Notts County BBC Sport 8 February 2024 15 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20210609044548/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8199993.stm 9 June 2021 live but then suffered its first defeat, losing 2–1 at Chesterfield.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8207188.stm Chesterfield 2–1 Notts County BBC Sport 8 February 2024 19 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20221220030030/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8207188.stm 20 December 2022 live During August, the club used its apparent new-found wealth to strengthen its squad. The signing of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from Manchester City for an undisclosed fee believed to surpass the club record was announced on 14 August.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8201444.stm Magpies Snap up Keeper Schmeichel BBC Sport 24 December 2023 14 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090816232200/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8201444.stm 16 August 2009 live That of Johnnie Jackson from Colchester United (also for an undisclosed fee) followed two days later.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8206042.stm Notts County Clinch Jackson Deal BBC Sport 19 May 2024 18 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090821084909/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8206042.stm 21 August 2009 live Schmeichel made his debut in a 3–0 home win over Dagenham & Redbridge on 22 August.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8207887.stm Notts County 3–0 Dag & Red BBC Sport 8 February 2024 22 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20200201142818/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8207887.stm 1 February 2020 live Three days later, Notts announced the signing of England international Sol Campbell on a five-year contract: "there were offers from the Premier League but that would have been short-term. I'm thinking of the future", he told the BBC.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8218136.stm Campbell Seals Notts County Move BBC Sport 5 February 2024 25 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20221025124013/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8218136.stm 25 October 2022 live In their final match of the month, Notts were beaten 1–0 at Barnet.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8220671.stm Barnet 1–0 Notts County BBC Sport 8 February 2024 29 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20201121220125/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8220671.stm 21 November 2020 live thumb|right|upright|alt=Sol Campbell playing for Newcastle United|Sol Campbell (pictured in 2010) made his only Notts County appearance in September.Early in September, Notts County strengthened their squad further, bringing in winger Matt Ritchie on loan from Portsmouth until the end of December.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8172861.stm Notts County Sign Winger Ritchie BBC Sport 19 May 2024 1 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519115830/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8172861.stm 19 May 2024 live The month began with two home games, a 1–1 draw with Burton Albion and a 5–2 win over Northampton Town in which Hughes scored his second hat-trick of the season.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8234027.stm Notts County 1–1 Burton Albion BBC Sport 8 February 2024 12 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20240208194056/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8234027.stm 8 February 2024 livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8246705.stm Notts County 5–2 Northampton BBC Sport 8 February 2024 12 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20160313090332/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8246705.stm 13 March 2016 live Campbell made his debut the following week at Morecambe, but he could not prevent the Magpies from losing 2–1.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8249033.stm Morecambe 2–1 Notts County BBC Sport 8 February 2024 19 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20220430062733/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8249033.stm 30 April 2022 live It proved to be Campbell's only game for the club, as he left by mutual consent four days later.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/23/sol-campbell-leaves-notts-county Sol Campbell leaves Notts County by mutual consent... after just one game The Guardian 8 February 2024 23 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040427/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/23/sol-campbell-leaves-notts-county 9 November 2020 live He had grown suspicious that the club's supposed wealth was not real;Robinson 2024 59–61 defender Mike Edwards later said that, shortly before leaving, Campbell had warned his teammates of his doubts.0:21:47 Despite losing Campbell, Notts ended the month with two victories, a 3–1 home win over Port Vale and a 3–0 win at Lincoln City in which Rodgers scored a hat-trick.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8265550.stm Notts County 3–1 Port Vale BBC Sport 16 February 2024 26 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20210214013357/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8265550.stm 14 February 2021 livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8271084.stm Lincoln City 0–3 Notts County BBC Sport 16 February 2024 29 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20150925210524/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8271084.stm 25 September 2015 live On 21 September, the Football League confirmed they were investigating the takeover. It had still not been approved by the league, who were demanding to know the identity of the new owners.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/21/notts-county-takeover-munto-finance Football League Confirms Investigation into Notts County Takeover The Guardian 12 February 2024 21 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20210823093437/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/21/notts-county-takeover-munto-finance 23 August 2021 live The same week, King's involvement in the takeover was made public by Goodley in The Sun,Robinson 2024 63–64 though King maintained he had acted as an advisor on only "strategic and media issues" and had relinquished his role after Notts County had appointed a new communications manager.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/24/notts-county-russell-king-digger Russell King Takes Key Role in Rise of Notts County The Guardian 9 February 2024 24 September 2009 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20240209080202/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/24/notts-county-russell-king-digger 9 February 2024 live On 27 September, in an effort to satisfy the league as to the identity of the new owners, Notts named two Middle East-based families as among the club's new investors,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/27/notts-county-shafi-hyat-investors Notts County Reveal Shafi and Hyat Families as Club Investors The Guardian 16 February 2024 27 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20210302044025/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/27/notts-county-shafi-hyat-investors 2 March 2021 live a move soon undermined when a member of one of the families denied involvement.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/07/notts-county-ownership-qadbak-league-two Anwar Shafi: I Have Nothing to Do with Notts County The Guardian 16 February 2024 6 October 2009 Declan Walsh Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20161201182044/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/07/notts-county-ownership-qadbak-league-two 1 December 2016 live Scott also questioned whether King really had ceased to be involved, noting the latter's continued close connections with the companies and individuals linked with Munto Finance.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/nov/11/notts-county-russell-king-korea Curious Case of Notts County, Former adviser and a North Korean Bigwig The Guardian 25 February 2024 11 November 2009 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20220326004256/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/nov/11/notts-county-russell-king-korea 26 March 2022 live October began with two draws, the first 1–1 at Cheltenham Town,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8273400.stm Cheltenham 1–1 Notts County BBC Sport 19 February 2024 3 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20170108192534/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8273400.stm 8 January 2017 live the second 2–2 at home to Torquay United, a result which left the Magpies in fifth place, four points from top spot.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8294605.stm Notts County 2–2 Torquay BBC Sport 19 February 2024 11 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20230427100102/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8294605.stm 27 April 2023 live The day after the latter, Ian McParland was sacked as manager,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/12/ian-mcparland-notts-county-sven-goran-eriksson Notts County Confirm Sacking of Manager Ian McParland The Guardian 19 February 2024 12 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20240219183612/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/12/ian-mcparland-notts-county-sven-goran-eriksson 19 February 2024 live replaced on an interim basis by Dave Kevan and Michael Johnson.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/notts-county/6446816/Notts-County-appoint-Hans-Backe-as-manager.html Notts County Appoint Hans Backe as Manager The Telegraph 19 February 2024 27 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015349/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/notts-county/6446816/Notts-County-appoint-Hans-Backe-as-manager.html 7 February 2019 live Kevan and Johnson ultimately took charge for two matches, a 0–0 draw at Rotherham United and a 2–0 home win over Crewe Alexandra.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8295726.stm Rotherham 0–0 Notts County BBC Sport 20 February 2024 17 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20240220091413/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8295726.stm 20 February 2024 livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8307105.stm Notts County 2–0 Crewe BBC Sport 18 May 2024 24 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091026165647/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8307105.stm 26 October 2009 live In the meantime, on 20 October, the Football League approved the takeover,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/20/notts-county-football-league-qadbak Football League Finally Approves Notts County Takeover The Guardian 20 February 2024 20 October 2009 Matt Scott Owen Gibson https://web.archive.org/web/20210909092758/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/20/notts-county-football-league-qadbak 9 September 2021 live accepting Notts County's new owners as fit-and proper persons despite still not knowing who they were.Robinson 2024 125–129 With the takeover now sanctioned, Notts moved to appoint their new manager. Eriksson and Trembling held talks with Roberto Mancini,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/29/notts-county-roberto-mancini-football Notts County Rejected Roberto Mancini over Fears of a 'Media Circus' The Guardian 20 February 2024 29 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20210706215320/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/29/notts-county-roberto-mancini-football 6 July 2021 live who was keen on the job, but Eriksson was by now growing concerned about the lack of investment being made in the club, and warned Mancini to wait.Robinson 2024 95 Ultimately, Hans Backe was appointed instead.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/27/hans-backe-notts-county-manager Hans Backe Appointed as Notts County Manager The Guardian 20 February 2024 27 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20240220175530/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/27/hans-backe-notts-county-manager 20 February 2024 live Backe took charge of Notts County's final match of October, a 1–1 draw at home to Shrewsbury Town.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8316988.stm Notts County 1–1 Shrewsbury BBC Sport 20 February 2024 31 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20240220091413/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8295726.stm 20 February 2024 live November–January In early November it was revealed that Notts County's parent company was subject to a winding-up petition due to £400,000 of unpaid debt. This was despite assurances to the Notts County Supporters' Trust, made when the takeover was agreed, that the debts would be settled quickly.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/nov/09/notts-county-tax-debt Notts County's Parent Company Facing Winding-up Order over Tax Debt The Guardian 22 February 2024 9 November 2009 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20210309194204/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/nov/09/notts-county-tax-debt 9 March 2021 live The club narrowly avoided a court hearing on the issue on 12 November,https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/nov/12/notts-county-resolve-debt-hmrc Notts County Resolve their Tax Debt – Just in Time The Guardian 22 February 2024 12 November 2009 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20240222120140/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/nov/12/notts-county-resolve-debt-hmrc 22 February 2024 live two days before the team's first league match of November, a 3–3 draw at Bury.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8328206.stm Bury 3–3 Notts County BBC Sport 22 February 2024 14 November 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091117103116/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8328206.stm 17 November 2009 live This match saw an unusual first-half incident, when Daniel Nardiello of Bury beat Schmeichel and fired the ball towards an empty net, only to see the ball become stuck in mud before it had crossed the goal line, allowing Schmeichel enough time to run back and gather.https://www.thetimes.com/article/mud-patch-no-joke-for-danny-nardiello-qsrhg5j9jdc Mud Patch No Joke for Danny Nardiello The Times 22 February 2024 16 November 2009 Craig Brereton https://web.archive.org/web/20240222132736/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mud-patch-no-joke-for-danny-nardiello-qsrhg5j9jdc 22 February 2024 live After a 0–0 home draw with Aldershot Town,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8353582.stm Notts County 0–0 Aldershot BBC Sport 22 February 2024 21 November 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091128142334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8353582.stm 28 November 2009 live Notts travelled to Rochdale in their final league match of the month, where they fell to a 2–1 loss.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8364791.stm Rochdale 2–1 Notts County BBC Sport 22 February 2024 24 November 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091127184623/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8364791.stm 27 November 2009 live Shortly after the Rochdale match, it was revealed that the Football League had renewed its investigation into Notts County's ownership.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/nov/27/notts-county-ownership League Renews Inquiries into Notts County The Guardian 22 February 2024 27 November 2009 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20131031004204/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/nov/27/notts-county-ownership 31 October 2013 live The club's off-field position was by now deteriorating rapidly, with King seemingly having vanished,Robinson 2024 160–165 and with creditors visiting the club frequently to demand payment.Robinson 2024 161 Despite the mounting problems, the Magpies won their first two games of December, 4–0 at home to Darlington and 2–0 at Hereford United.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8377408.stm Notts County 4–0 Darlington BBC Sport 22 February 2024 1 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20190421001412/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8377408.stm 21 April 2019 livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8377386.stm Hereford 0–2 Notts County BBC Sport 22 February 2024 4 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20220723075233/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8377386.stm 23 July 2022 live In the days following the latter, it was reported that Trembling was planning a management buyout of the club,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/10/notts-county-peter-trembling-sven-goran-eriksson Peter Trembling Mounts Management Buyout of Notts County The Guardian 22 February 2024 10 December 2009 Sachin Nakrani https://web.archive.org/web/20240222194932/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/10/notts-county-peter-trembling-sven-goran-eriksson 22 February 2024 live and that Eriksson was on the verge of resigning.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/11/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county Sven-Goran Eriksson on the Verge of Walking Out of Notts County The Guardian 22 February 2024 11 December 2009 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20240222200233/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/11/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county 22 February 2024 live Armstrong-Holmes also told The Guardian that he now felt he had been "hoodwinked" into handing the club over to Munto Finance.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/11/notts-county-john-armstrong-holmes I Bitterly Regret Notts County Sale Says Trust Chief The Guardian 22 February 2024 11 December 2009 David Conn Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20210115155058/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/11/notts-county-john-armstrong-holmes 15 January 2021 live Trembling completed his takeover on 12 December, promising to look for fresh investment for the club.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/12/notts-county Peter Trembling Completes Management Buy-out of Notts County The Guardian 22 February 2024 12 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20230814123735/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/12/notts-county 14 August 2023 live The same day, Notts were beaten 2–1 at home by Accrington Stanley.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8398174.stm Notts County 1–2 Accrington Stanley BBC Sport 25 February 2024 12 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20200323221236/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8398174.stm 23 March 2020 live This proved to be Backe's final game; he resigned shortly afterwards,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/15/notts-county-hans-backe-quits Notts County's Manager Hans Backe Quits over 'Broken Promises' The Guardian 25 February 2024 15 December 2009 Matt Scott Marcus Christenson https://web.archive.org/web/20240225183818/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/15/notts-county-hans-backe-quits 25 February 2024 live with Kevan resuming temporary charge.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8413678.stm Notts County Manager Hans Backe Resigns from his Job BBC Sport 25 February 2024 15 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20231027125804/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8413678.stm 27 October 2023 live In their final match of the month, the Magpies won 4–1 at Burton with Hughes scoring a hat-trick.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8419286.stm Burton Albion 1–4 Notts County BBC Sport 25 February 2024 12 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20100123045342/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8419286.stm 23 January 2010 live Notts County's financial problems continued in the new year. Early in January, the club was served with a new winding-up petition issued by HMRC. The situation was not helped by the unusually cold winter forcing the postponement of matches and denying the club much-needed income.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/04/notts-county Notts County Face New Threat from Taxman The Guardian 26 February 2024 4 January 2010 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20240226080354/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/04/notts-county 26 February 2024 live Trembling claimed Notts needed investment of £25 million to retain Eriksson and sustain the ambition to reach the Premier League,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/05/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county We Need £25m or Sven-Goran Eriksson Will Go, Says Notts County Owner The Guardian 26 February 2024 5 January 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20230411213102/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/05/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county 11 April 2023 live but the required investment had not been found by the week the club was due in court in connection with the winding-up petition.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/25/notts-county-two-million-pounds Notts County in Race to Find £2m by Wednesday to Satisfy High Court The Guardian 26 February 2024 25 January 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20240226094153/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/25/notts-county-two-million-pounds 26 February 2024 live The day before the hearing, the Magpies played their first league match of the month, a 3–0 win at Dagenham.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8464179.stm Dag & Red 0–3 Notts County BBC Sport 18 May 2024 26 January 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100129214322/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8464179.stm 29 January 2010 live On 27 January came news that the court had been granted a 28-day extension to the club to settle its debt with HMRC, though the latter requested that this be marked as final; no further extensions would be forthcoming.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/27/nott-county-stay-execution Notts County Given Four-Week Stay of Execution by High Court The Guardian 26 February 2024 27 January 2010 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20131207132652/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/27/nott-county-stay-execution 7 December 2013 live The team played its final match of the month on 30 January, defeating Barnet 2–0 at home.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8481073.stm Notts County 2–0 Barnet BBC Sport 26 February 2024 30 January 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20171020181519/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8481073.stm 20 October 2017 live February–May thumb|left|upright|alt=Steve Cotterill while Bristol City manager|Steve Cotterill (pictured in 2015) was appointed manager in February.In their first match of February, the Magpies won 1–0 at Grimsby Town.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8490317.stm Grimsby 0–1 Notts County BBC Sport 18 May 2024 6 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100209182759/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8490317.stm 9 February 2010 live A 2–1 defeat at AFC Bournemouth followed in the next game,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8493427.stm Bournemouth 2–1 Notts County BBC Sport 18 May 2024 9 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100211184626/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8493427.stm 11 February 2010 live before the team played Grimsby again, this time a 1–1 draw at Meadow Lane.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8494447.stm Notts County 1–1 Grimsby BBC Sport 29 February 2024 17 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20230415232218/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8494447.stm 15 April 2023 live On 11 February, news came that Ray Trew had agreed to buy the club. In a statement, Trembling said Trew was "not of the £25m+ ilk", but did have sufficient funds to prevent the Magpies from going bankrupt. As a result of the takeover, Trembling and Eriksson both departed their posts,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/11/sven-goran-erikkson-notts-county Sven-Goran Eriksson Leaves Notts County after Takeover The Guardian 23 May 2024 11 February 2010 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20220815153755/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/11/sven-goran-erikkson-notts-county 15 August 2022 live though Eriksson was given the "non-active" role of joint life president of the club.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8511198.stm Sven-Goran Eriksson Leaves after Notts County Takeover BBC Sport 23 May 2024 12 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100214112925/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8511198.stm 14 February 2010 live Though Notts had been saved, Trew warned supporters that the club's position remained precarious and administration could not be ruled out.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8513590.stm Sven-Goran Eriksson Forgoes £2.5m Owed by Notts County BBC Sport 29 February 2024 12 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20240229202701/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8513590.stm 29 February 2024 live Notts County's first league match following the takeover was a 1–1 draw at Aldershot, a result which left the Magpies in seventh place, fourteen points from top spot.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8495850.stm Aldershot 1–1 Notts County BBC Sport 1 March 2024 20 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20211123140345/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8495850.stm 23 November 2021 live Three days later, on 23 February, Trew announced that administration would not be necessary, and that he had appointed Steve Cotterill as manager for the remainder of the season.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/23/notts-county-steve-cotterill-administration Notts County Avoid Administration and Name Steve Cotterill as Manager The Guardian 1 March 2024 23 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20240301095254/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/23/notts-county-steve-cotterill-administration 1 March 2024 live Cotterill took charge for the first time in the final game of February, a 5–0 home win over Hereford in which Westcarr scored a hat-trick and Rodgers a brace.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8499170.stm Notts County 5–0 Hereford BBC Sport 1 March 2024 27 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20180714222812/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8499170.stm 14 July 2018 live March began with consecutive wins over Macclesfield,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8511521.stm Notts County 1–0 Macclesfield BBC Sport 1 March 2024 2 March 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100305121341/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8511521.stm 5 March 2010 live Accrington,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8541622.stm Accrington Stanley 0–3 Notts County BBC Sport 1 March 2024 6 March 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20221222032050/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8541622.stm 22 December 2022 live and Chesterfield; the last of these saw Notts County move up to fourth place, three points behind Bournemouth,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8541788.stm Notts County 1–0 Chesterfield BBC Sport 1 March 2024 9 March 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20221220030044/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8541788.stm 20 December 2022 live their next opponents. A Hughes brace gave Notts 1–0 and 2–1 leads, but an injury-time equaliser for the away team earned Bournemouth a 2–2 draw. Despite the concession of a late goal, the result moved the Magpies into the top three.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8557871.stm Notts County 2–2 Bournemouth BBC Sport 1 March 2024 15 March 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20240301182407/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8557871.stm 1 March 2024 live There then followed two away matches, the first a 1–0 win at Crewe,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8560744.stm Crewe 0–1 Notts County BBC Sport 1 March 2024 20 March 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20230409214137/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8560744.stm 9 April 2023 live the second a 0–0 draw with Bradford which extended the team's unbeaten run to nine.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8567872.stm Bradford 0–0 Notts County BBC Sport 1 March 2024 23 March 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20160617235612/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8567872.stm 17 June 2016 live Now in second place, Notts hosted third place Rotherham in their final match of the month. The game appeared to be heading for a goalless draw entering the final minute, but a 90th minute goal from Rodgers gave the Magpies a 1–0 win, allowing them to end March in second place, with 68 points from 36 matches, 10 points behind top spot.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8568332.stm Notts County 1–0 Rotherham BBC Sport 3 March 2024 27 March 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100330074159/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8568332.stm 30 March 2010 live April began with a 5–0 home win over Bury, with five different goal scorers for the Magpies.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8583709.stm Notts County 5–0 Bury BBC Sport 5 March 2024 3 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20221222031955/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8583709.stm 22 December 2022 live That same afternoon, the league leaders Rochdale were beaten 2–0 at Chesterfield; these results meant Notts had reduced the gap between themselves and first place to seven points, having played a game less.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8583593.stm Chesterfield 2–0 Rochdale BBC Sport 5 March 2024 3 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20221222031637/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8583593.stm 22 December 2022 live Rochdale were held to a draw in their next game,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8598806.stm Rochdale 0–0 Bournemouth BBC Sport 5 March 2024 5 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20220805183242/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8598806.stm 5 August 2022 live allowing Notts to move within five points with a 1–0 win at Shrewsbury.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8598821.stm Shrewsbury 0–1 Notts County BBC Sport 5 March 2024 5 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20220805183241/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8598821.stm 5 August 2022 live Rochdale would then lose their next two matches,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8605271.stm Torquay 5–0 Rochdale BBC Sport 5 March 2024 10 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100412130435/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8605271.stm 12 April 2010 livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8606134.stm Rochdale 0–1 Darlington BBC Sport 6 March 2024 13 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20221220030025/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8606134.stm 20 December 2022 live and Notts took first place after a 1–0 win at Northampton and a 3–1 home win over Lincoln.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8605264.stm Northampton 0–1 Notts County BBC Sport 5 March 2024 10 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100412141954/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8605264.stm 12 April 2010 livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8606132.stm Notts County 3–1 Lincoln City BBC Sport 5 March 2024 13 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20221222031650/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8606132.stm 22 December 2022 live Promotion to League One was confirmed on 17 April with a 4–1 home win over Morecambe, before Notts played Rochdale at Meadow Lane on 20 April. The match attracted 10,536 spectators, and was won 1–0 by the home team through a 30th minute goal by Hughes. The victory put the Magpies four points clear of second with a game in hand, and was described by Paul Fletcher of the BBC as "a huge step towards sealing the League Two title".https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8620481.stm Notts County 1–0 Rochdale BBC Sport 8 March 2024 20 April 2010 Paul Fletcher https://web.archive.org/web/20221001190400/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8620481.stm 1 October 2022 live Notts lost their next match at Port Vale,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8620873.stm Port Vale 2–1 Notts County BBC Sport 8 March 2024 24 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20230523050446/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8620873.stm 23 May 2023 live but then clinched the title on 27 April with a 5–0 win at Darlington.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8621001.stm Darlington 0–5 Notts County BBC Sport 8 March 2024 30 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20230420033243/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8621001.stm 20 April 2023 live The team were presented the trophy after their final home game,https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/8653626.stm Notts County fans warned against pitch invasion BBC Sport 8 March 2024 27 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20240308140452/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/8653626.stm 8 March 2024 live a 5–0 win over Cheltenham,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8630095.stm Notts County 5–0 Cheltenham BBC Sport 8 March 2024 1 May 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20230419070625/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8630095.stm 19 April 2023 live before the season concluded with a 0–0 draw at Torquay.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8632893.stm Torquay 0–0 Notts County BBC Sport 8 March 2024 8 May 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20230404012944/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8632893.stm 4 April 2023 live Match details Key In result column, Notts County's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal Results DateOpponentsResultNotts County goalscorersAttendanceSource8 August 2009Bradford City (H)5–0Davies, Hughes (3, 1 pen.), Moloney9,39615 August 2009Macclesfield Town (A)4–0Ravenhill, Hunt, Wright (o.g.), Westcarr2,78519 August 2009Chesterfield (A)1–2Edwards6,19622 August 2009Dagenham & Redbridge (H)3–0Hughes, Hawley, Jackson6,56229 August 2009Barnet (A)0–12,8585 September 2009Burton Albion (H)1–1Hawley8,89112 September 2009Northampton Town (H)5–2Ritchie (2), Hughes (3, 1 pen.)7,15419 September 2009Morecambe (A)1–2Davies3,33526 September 2009Port Vale (H)3–1Hughes (2, 1 pen.), Collins (o.g.)7,56129 September 2009Lincoln City (A)3–0Rodgers (3)5,5273 October 2009Cheltenham Town (A)1–1Rodgers 4,13411 October 2009Torquay United (H)2–2Westcarr, Davies8,81217 October 2009Rotherham United (A)0–05,73824 October 2009Crewe Alexandra (H)2–0Rodgers, Westcarr6,54531 October 2009Shrewsbury Town (H)1–1Lee7,56214 November 2009Bury (A)3–3Hughes (2), Ritchie3,60221 November 2009Aldershot Town (H)0–06,50024 November 2009Rochdale (A)1–2Flynn (o.g.)2,7791 December 2009Darlington (H)4–0Rodgers, Hughes (2), Davies4,6064 December 2009Hereford United (A)2–0Westcarr, Edwards2,72712 December 2009Accrington Stanley (H)1–2Hughes (pen.)5,85526 December 2009Burton Albion (A)4–1Ravenhill, Hughes (3, 1 pen.)5,80126 January 2010Dagenham & Redbridge (A)3–0Davies, Hughes, Ogogo (o.g.)1,91630 January 2010Barnet (H)2–0Hawley, Davies6,4446 February 2010Grimsby Town (A)1–0Hughes4,4529 February 2010AFC Bournemouth (A)1–2Bishop5,47217 February 2010Grimsby Town (H)1–1Hughes5,16320 February 2010Aldershot Town (A)1–1Davies4,01627 February 2010Hereford United (H)5–0Westcarr (3, 1 pen.), Rodgers (2, 1 pen.)6,0362 March 2010Macclesfield Town (H)1–0Clapham4,6726 March 2010Accrington Stanley (A)3–0Davies, Hughes, Rodgers2,1239 March 2010Chesterfield (H)1–0Davies7,34115 March 2010AFC Bournemouth (H)2–2Hughes (2)6,12020 March 2010Crewe Alexandra (A)1–0Edwards5,00323 March 2010Bradford City (A)0–011,63027 March 2010Rotherham United (H)1–0Rodgers9,0153 April 2010Bury (H)5–0Edwards, Westcarr, Davies, Hughes, Facey7,0055 April 2010Shrewsbury Town (A)1–0Davies6,28710 April 2010Northampton Town (A)1–0Davies5,64713 April 2010Lincoln City (H)3–1Hughes, Lee, Facey7,50117 April 2010Morecambe (H)4–1Hughes (2), Ravenhill, Davies8,50020 April 2010Rochdale (H)1–0Hughes10,53624 April 2010Port Vale (A)1–2Lee7,45927 April 2010Darlington (A)5–0Jackson, Edwards, Westcarr, Rodgers (2)2,1121 May 2010Cheltenham Town (H)5–0Lee, Hughes (2), Davies, Rodgers11,3318 May 2010Torquay United (A)0–05,124 Partial league table main WDL Q auto League Two final table, leading positions NOC BOU ROC MOR ROT ALD DAG 27 12 7 96 31 25 8 13 61 44 25 7 14 82 48 20 13 13 73 64 21 10 15 55 52 20 12 14 69 56 20 12 14 69 58 Notts County AFC Bournemouth Rochdale Morecambe Rotherham United Aldershot Town Dagenham & Redbridge Division Champions, promoted CP Promoted P P Participated in play-offs PP PP PP Participated in play-offs, promoted PPP complete https://fbref.com/en/comps/16/2009-2010/2009-2010-League-Two-Stats#all_results2009-2010161 2009–2010 League Two Stats FBRef 19 May 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20220927172348/https://fbref.com/en/comps/16/2009-2010/2009-2010-League-Two-Stats#all_results2009-2010161 27 September 2022 live Cup competitions FA Cup thumb|right|alt=Craven Cottage, the home ground of Fulham, as it appeared in 2018|Notts County reached the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 1992, facing Premier League side Fulham at Craven Cottage (pictured in 2018).Notts County's FA Cup campaign began in the first round with a home match against fellow League Two club Bradford. Karl Hawley and Johnnie Jackson scored shortly before and after half time, and the Magpies won 2–1.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8341087.stm Notts County 2–1 Bradford BBC Sport 12 May 2024 5 November 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091108172408/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8341087.stm 8 November 2009 live Notts defeated League Two opposition again in the second round, this time coming from 0–1 down to win 2–1 at Bournemouth,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8379561.stm Bournemouth 1–2 Notts County BBC Sport 12 May 2024 28 November 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091130064146/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8379561.stm 30 November 2009 live and so earned a home tie with Forest Green Rovers of the Football Conference in the third round. As the match was due to be played in the midst of Trembling's efforts to find a new buyer for the club, he had reportedly hoped to use the tie as an opportunity to host potential investors; the match, however, was postponed due to freezing weather conditions. The tie eventually went ahead on 20 January and was won 2–1 by the Magpies, who consequently reached the FA Cup's fourth round for the first time in 15 years.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8466395.stm Notts County 2–1 Forest Green BBC Sport 12 May 2024 20 January 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100122005557/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8466395.stm 22 January 2010 live Notts County's next opponents were Premier League side Wigan Athletic, who visited Meadow Lane on 23 January. A crowd of 9,073 saw the Magpies take a 2–0 first half lead through goals from Hughes and Davies, but Wigan fought back in the second half, and a late goal from Ben Watson meant the match finished 2–2, meaning a replay would be required.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8474371.stm Notts County 2–2 Wigan BBC Sport 12 May 2024 23 January 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100126105324/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8474371.stm 26 January 2010 live With speculation ongoing about the club's future, Davies welcomed the replay as a "chance to get in the headlines for the right reasons".https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/25/notts-county-wigan-athletic-fa-cup Impressive Notts County Keen to Make the Right Sort of Headlines The Guardian 12 May 2024 25 January 2010 Mikey Stafford https://web.archive.org/web/20240512114716/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/25/notts-county-wigan-athletic-fa-cup 12 May 2024 live In the replay, a 75th minute goal from Stephen Hunt, followed shortly afterwards by an own goal from Wigan's Gary Caldwell, gave the Magpies a 2–0 win over their Premier League opponents.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8491826.stm Wigan 0–2 Notts County BBC Sport 12 May 2024 2 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100206143731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8491826.stm 6 February 2010 live The victory meant Notts County progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1992.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/fa-cup/7055327/Notts-County-2-Wigan-Athletic-2-match-report.html Notts County 2 Wigan Athletic 2: Match Report The Telegraph 12 May 2024 23 January 2010 David McVay https://web.archive.org/web/20110605071053/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/fa-cup/7055327/Notts-County-2-Wigan-Athletic-2-match-report.html 5 June 2011 live Here, the Magpies were drawn away to another Premier League club, this time Fulham. The match, coming shortly after Trew's purchase of the club, resulted in a 4–0 defeat for Notts, who were consequently eliminated from the competition.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8506655.stm Fulham 4–0 Notts County BBC Sport 12 May 2024 14 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100216012039/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8506655.stm 16 February 2010 live Match details Key In result column, Notts County's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal Results DateOpponentsResultNotts County goalscorersAttendanceSource5 November 2009Bradford City (H)2–1Hawley, Jackson4,21328 November 2009AFC Bournemouth (A)2–1Hughes, Westcarr6,08220 January 2010Forest Green Rovers (H)2–1Hunt, Hughes4,38923 January 2010Wigan Athletic (H)2–2Hughes, Davies9,0732 February 2010Wigan Athletic (A)2–0Hunt, Caldwell (o.g.)5,51914 February 2010Fulham (A)0–416,132 League Cup As a League Two team, Notts County entered the League Cup in the first round, where they were drawn at home to Doncaster Rovers of the Championship. The Magpies lost 1–0 and were thus eliminated from the competition.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/8188165.stm Notts County 0–1 Doncaster BBC Sport 12 May 2024 11 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090815005409/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/8188165.stm 15 August 2009 live Match details Key In result column, Notts County's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal Results DateOpponentsResultNotts County goalscorersAttendanceSource11 August 2009Doncaster Rovers (H)0–14,893 Football League Trophy In the first round of the Football League Trophy, a competition for League One and Two teams, Notts County were drawn away to Bradford. The match finished 2–2, requiring a penalty shootout to determine the winner. Bradford won this 3–2, and the Magpies were eliminated from the competition.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8284764.stm Bradford 2–2 Notts County BBC Sport 12 May 2024 6 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091009011524/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8284764.stm 9 October 2009 live Match details Key In result column, Notts County's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal Results DateOpponentsResultNotts County goalscorersAttendanceSource6 October 2009Bradford City (A)2–2 (a.e.t.)Westcarr, Facey3,701 Players thumb|upright|right|alt=Ben Davies while playing for Shrewsbury Town in 2008|Ben Davies (pictured in 2008) played in 51 of Notts County's 54 games in 2009–10. Before Trew's takeover, Notts County had been penalised for breaking League Two's salary cap, which required wages exceed no more than 60% of revenue. Though Trew claimed to have rectified this, the club nevertheless spent much of the season under a transfer embargo, unable to sign any further players.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/apr/19/notts-county-morecambe-league-two Notts County Chairman Says Promotion from League Two Achieved Fairly The Guardian 29 February 2024 12 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20240226080435/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/apr/19/notts-county-morecambe-league-two 26 February 2024 live A total of 24 players made at least one appearance for Notts County during the 2009–10 season. Of these, Ben Davies played in the most games, featuring in 51 of 54 matches.https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1871&teamTabs=stats Notts Co Squad Details Soccerbase 13 May 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240513202405/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1871&teamTabs=stats 13 May 2024 live Eight other players – Neal Bishop, Mike Edwards, Lee Hughes, Ricky Ravenhill, Luke Rodgers, Kasper Schmeichel, John Thompson and Craig Westcarr – made a minimum of 40 appearances, while three players (Sol Campbell, Sean Canham and Nathan Fox) played only once, the latter two's appearances coming as substitutes. Hughes scored 33 goals across all competitions during the campaign. In doing so, he became the first Notts County player to score 30 goals in a season since Tommy Lawton in 1949–50.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64704677 Macaulay Langstaff: Notts County Boss Luke Williams Hails Striker for Scoring 30 Goals BBC Sport 14 May 2024 20 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230315060406/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64704677 15 March 2023 live Davies (16), Rodgers (13) and Westcarr (11) were the other players to reach a minimum of 10 goals. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel kept 24 clean sheets in his 43 league appearances,https://fbref.com/en/players/53af52f3/Kasper-Schmeichel#all_stats_keeper Kasper Schmeichel FBRef 14 May 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20231122215031/https://fbref.com/en/players/53af52f3/Kasper-Schmeichel#all_stats_keeper 22 November 2023 live setting a new club record for the most in a season.https://leftlion.co.uk/features/2010/06/kasper-schmeichel-interview-last-notts-county-interview-keeper-leicester-leeds-united-denmark/ Interview: Kasper Schmeichel LeftLion 14 May 2024 1 June 2010 Jared Wilson https://web.archive.org/web/20240514124858/https://leftlion.co.uk/features/2010/06/kasper-schmeichel-interview-last-notts-county-interview-keeper-leicester-leeds-united-denmark/ 14 May 2024 live Player statistics Key Pos = Playing position Nat. = Nationality Apps = Appearances GK = Goalkeeper DF = Defender MF = Midfielder FW = Forward Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Pos.Nat.NameLeague TwoFA CupLeague CupLeague TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFWENG Ade Akinbiyi1 (9)01000002 (10)0MFENG Neal Bishop39 (4)110101042 (4)1MFENG Sol Campbell1000000010FWENG Sean Canham0 (1)00000000 (1)0DFENG Jamie Clapham17 (13)150101024 (13)1MFENG Ben Davies45156100005116MFENG Mike Edwards37 (3)540101041 (3)5FWGRN Delroy Facey7 (11)20 (1)000118 (12)3DFENG Nathan Fox0 (1)00000000 (1)0DFENG Matt Hamshaw2 (18)00 (3)010003 (21)0DFENG Karl Hawley14 (17)32 (3)1101016 (20)4GKENG Russell Hoult3 (1)01010005 (1)0FWENG Lee Hughes3930530 (1)00044 (1)33DFENG Stephen Hunt321521000381MFENG Johnnie Jackson20 (4)261000026 (4)3DFENG Daniel Jones7000001080DFENG Graeme Lee31 (1)430001035 (1)4DFIRE Brendan Moloney181001000191MFENG Ricky Ravenhill403601010483MFSCO Matt Ritchie12 (4)31 (1)0000 (1)013 (6)3MFENG Luke Rodgers27 (15)130 (5)0100028 (20)13GKDEN Kasper Schmeichel430500010480DFIRE John Thompson38 (2)050101045 (2)0FWENG Craig Westcarr33 (9)95 (1)10 (1)01139 (11)11 Source: Aftermath and legacy Investigations of the takeover Investigations of the Munto Finance takeover, and the broader scheme of which it was part, continued after its collapse. One was undertaken by the BBC journalist Peter Marshall, whose investigation was broadcast in an episode of Panorama shown on BBC One in April 2011.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/apr/15/notts-county-digger-series How Digger Helped Solve the Riddle of Notts County and Lord Voldemort The Guardian 26 February 2024 15 April 2011 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20220511153802/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/apr/15/notts-county-digger-series 11 May 2022 live A BBC Sounds podcast series produced by the journalist (and Notts County supporter) Ben Robinson in 2022, and a documentary produced for Sky Documentaries in 2025,The King of Lies: Football's Great Con Daniel Sharp Matthew Lorenzo Yasmine Weber Sky Documentaries 16 November 2025 uncovered further information. These investigations, together with the reporting of Matt Scott, confirmed King's central role. Eriksson gave an interview to Scott shortly after the former's departure from Notts, in which Eriksson said that King had played a pivotal part in convincing him to join the club.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/12/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county-interview Sven-Goran Eriksson: How I Was Conned at Notts County The Guardian 26 February 2024 12 February 2010 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20140115181849/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/12/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county-interview 15 January 2014 live Meanwhile, Marshall found evidence of King giving orders and approving finances at Meadow Lane,0:07:17 and Trembling told Marshall that King had been his boss. The investigations revealed a complicated network of companies. Munto Finance was a subsidiary of Qadbak Investments, which was in turn closely connected to a third company, Swiss Commodity Holding (SCH), the sole directors of which were Nathan and Peter Willett.King himself, who said he had "never been a shareholder, director, trustee or beneficiary", was not listed as a director of SCH. Philip Sinel, a lawyer who investigated King, told Marshall that King would always try to hide his involvement in companies.0:08:10 At Notts County, King acquired the nickname Lord Voldemort due to his insistence that his name not be included in any documents (Voldemort, the main antagonist of the Harry Potter series, is often referred to as "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named"https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-16/ant-species-named-after-harry-potter-villain-lord-voldemort/103702350 Ant Species Named after Harry Potter villain Lord Voldemort after Pilbara Discovery Australian Broadcasting Corporation 12 May 2024 16 April 2024 Charlie Mills https://web.archive.org/web/20240416015225/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-16/ant-species-named-after-harry-potter-villain-lord-voldemort/103702350 16 April 2024 live). Asked by Marshall how King was able to orchestrate his schemes, Sinel explained "other people front for him".0:08:17 Eriksson had been promised a shareholding in SCH,https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/sep/30/notts-county-nathan-willett-peter-trembling Notts County money men behind a tangled web of confused companies The Guardian 23 February 2024 30 September 2009 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20230423064849/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/sep/30/notts-county-nathan-willett-peter-trembling 23 April 2023 live and Campbell handed a £33,000 per week "ambassadorial" contract (in addition to his contract with Notts County).https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/sep/25/notts-county-contracts-sol-campbell Football League Has Duty to Scrutinise Sol Campbell's Notts County Contract The Guardian 23 February 2024 25 September 2009 Matt Scott https://web.archive.org/web/20210309180946/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/sep/25/notts-county-contracts-sol-campbell 9 March 2021 live The company's logo was even incorporated into Notts County's badge. King was preparing a fraudulent stock market floatation of SCH, which presented itself as a mining company with reserves of $1.9 trillion and the rights to extract the mineral wealth of North Korea (despite lacking the means of doing so).Robinson 2024 144–146 The takeover of Notts County, together with a similar attempted takeover of the BMW Sauber Formula One team, was intended to lend positive publicity to SCH and drive interest in its floatation.Robinson 2024 146–147 Had King succeeded in getting SCH listed, it would have resulted in "a fraud on a colossal scale".Robinson 2024 169 King and Nathan Willett visited North Korea in October 2009, taking with them Eriksson and Abid Hyat Khan, a man introduced to Eriksson as a Bahraini prince, but in fact an alleged fraudster hiding from British police.Robinson 2024 148 During the visit, Eriksson was asked by North Korean officials to fix a favourable 2010 FIFA World Cup group for the North Korea team.Robinson 2024 150–151 King and his SCH colleagues held meetings with North Korean officials during the visit, during which he handed out certificates to his hosts for shares in SCH supposedly worth $2 billion.Robinson 2024 151 However, the delegation's departure from Pyongyang International Airport was considerably delayed, with the North Koreans apparently having grown suspicious. Eriksson described a tense wait before the flight was allowed to leave, with King and Willett "panicking and sweating".Robinson 2024 152–153 King's scheme effectively collapsed, and he fled to Bahrain.Robinson 2024 165–167 Marshall would later track him down and confront him there, but King closed the door on Marshall without speaking.0:27:08 Nathan Willett also disappeared. In 2012, while still in Bahrain, King, posing as "Jack Bartholemew", provided a dossier of information to the journalists and authors Anthony Summers and Robyn Swann, purporting to demonstrate North Korea's nuclear capability; King would have received an advance from a book Summers and Swann wrote with the material, but the latter were able to establish his identity. King then launched another fraudulent scheme, this time creating a magazine which he passed off as a Middle East-based edition of the Financial Times to obtain the advertising revenue and barter deals.Robinson 2024 203–209 In 2018, King was extradited from Bahrain to Jersey to stand trial in connection with still another fraud, this one perpetrated in Jersey in 2008. He was convicted in 2019 and sentenced to six years imprisonment.Robinson 2024 211–218 At a later hearing, Jersey authorities ordered that he pay £322,212 in connection with the case or face additional time in prison.https://www.jerseyeveningpost.com/uncategorised/2019/08/23/court-orders-fraudster-king-to-pay-320000/ Court Orders Fraudster King to Pay £320,000 Jersey Evening Post 25 February 2024 23 August 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20240225161203/https://www.jerseyeveningpost.com/uncategorised/2019/08/23/court-orders-fraudster-king-to-pay-320000/ 25 February 2024 live Released in 2021, he was confronted again at his home by Alice Levine, the presenter of the BBC Sounds series, in the course of her and Robinson's investigation. He refused to come to the door, and even denied that he was Russell King.Robinson 2024 239 Consequences for Notts County "We expected it to be bad, but probably not this bad", Jim Rodwell, Notts County's new chief executive, said of the club's finances a month after Trew's takeover. At that point, the club was thought to be £6.9 million in debt.https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/simonaustin/2010/03/saving_notts_county.html Saving Notts County BBC Sport 29 February 2024 5 March 2010 Simon Austin https://web.archive.org/web/20231001134105/https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/simonaustin/2010/03/saving_notts_county.html 1 October 2023 live Trew later said that the final debts were in fact £7.3 million, including a six figure sum owed to a law firm and £250,000 owed to Campbell for his solitary appearance.Robinson 2024 226 The situation would have been worse had Eriksson not agreed to forgo £2.5 million owed to him by the club. There was considerable anger towards Notts County from other League Two clubs, who felt that the Magpies had not been punished sufficiently for breaking the salary cap. Trew dismissed this in an open letter, claiming the club's FA Cup run and his investment had brought it within the salary cap, though he acknowledged this had not been the case before his arrival.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/apr/19/notts-county-ray-trew-open-letter Notts County Chairman Ray Trew's Open Letter to League Two Chairmen The Guardian 29 February 2024 12 February 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20210125173824/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/apr/19/notts-county-ray-trew-open-letter 25 January 2021 live Nevertheless, Notts were required to release Schmeichel, reportedly earning £15,000 per week, following the season's conclusion, with Trew explaining that retaining and attempting to gain a transfer fee for the goalkeeper would have been a huge risk for a club with such precarious finances.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8647725.stm Notts County to Tear Up Kasper Schmeichel Deal BBC Sport 29 February 2024 27 April 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20230406001612/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8647725.stm 6 April 2023 live Notts County remained in League One for five years until returning to League Two in 2015.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32471124 Gillingham 3–1 Notts County BBC Sport 29 February 2024 3 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20230423092805/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32471124 23 April 2023 live Interest in the Munto Finance takeover has continued in the years since, particularly as the club continued to experience off-field problems. In 2016, with the club once again subject to winding up petitions,https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/dec/22/notts-county-takeover-alan-hardy-ray-trew Another Notts County Era Begins with Cautious Optimism after £3.5m Takeover The Guardian 29 February 2024 22 September 2016 David Conn https://web.archive.org/web/20221125152229/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/dec/22/notts-county-takeover-alan-hardy-ray-trew 25 November 2022 live and Trew looking to sell, Harry Reardon of These Football Times wrote of the "bizarre" takeover, hoping that a proposed sale to overseas investors would "go a little better than last time".https://thesefootballtimes.co/2016/04/13/notts-county-and-the-bizarre-takeover-of-2009/ Notts County and the Bizarre Takeover of 2009 These Football Times 29 February 2024 13 April 2016 Harry Rearden https://web.archive.org/web/20231003232742/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2016/04/13/notts-county-and-the-bizarre-takeover-of-2009/ 3 October 2023 live Trew sold the club to Alan Hardy, a Nottingham-based businessman, in December 2016, but by 2019 the Magpies were not only once again in the midst of a severe financial crisis but also relegated to non-League football for the first time in their history. Coverage of the club's plight at that time referenced the events of 2009.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/02/01/notts-county-football-leagues-oldest-club-became-biggest/ How Notts County – the Football League's Oldest Club – Became its Biggest Basketcase Sam Brodbeck The Telegraph 23 May 2024 1 February 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190201154819/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/02/01/notts-county-football-leagues-oldest-club-became-biggest/ 1 February 2019 livehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48148785 Notts County: League Two Relegation Robs Magpies of their Identity Andrew Aloia BBC Sport 29 February 2024 5 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20230416133212/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48148785 16 April 2023 live During the 2022–23 season, some journalists framed the club's efforts to win promotion back to the league as an attempt to recover from the off-field problems of the previous two decades, the 2009 takeover among them.https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/notts-county-road-wembley-final-wheels-come-off-2334118 Notts County's Road to Wembley Hasn't Been Easy – but this Time the Wheel Might Not Come Off iNews 6 February 2024 12 May 2023 Daniel Storey https://web.archive.org/web/20230512143624/https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/notts-county-road-wembley-final-wheels-come-off-2334118 12 May 2023 livehttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/08/sports/soccer/welcome-to-wrexham-notts-county.html The Team Trying to Change the Ending of 'Welcome to Wrexham' The New York Times 27 September 2023 8 April 2023 Rory Smith https://web.archive.org/web/20230409044549/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/08/sports/soccer/welcome-to-wrexham-notts-county.html 9 April 2023 live Notes References Infobox kits Home colours: https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10426~1746607,00.html Notts Strike Deal With Nike Notts County F.C. 30 October 2024 7 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090810111553/https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10426~1746607,00.html 10 August 2009 dead Away colours: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/notts-county/6221326/Sol-Campbell-in-Notts-County-walk-out.html Sol Campbell leaves Notts County The Telegraph 30 October 2024 23 September 2009 Sandy Macaskill https://web.archive.org/web/20150830063427/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/notts-county/6221326/Sol-Campbell-in-Notts-County-walk-out.html 30 August 2015 live none General Conn David 2004 The Beautiful Game? Searching for the Soul of Football London Yellow Jersey Press 0-224-06435-5 Porter Chris 2019 Supporter Ownership in English Football: Class, Culture and Politics Cham Palgrave Macmillan 978-3030054373 Robinson Ben 2024 The Trillion Dollar Conman London Icon Books 978-183773-142-8 Warsop Keith Brown Tony 2007 The Definitive Notts County F.C. Nottingham Tony Brown 978-1-899468-99-7 Specific Category:Notts County F.C. seasons Notts County