Rotherham fans flying to Plymouth...

[brewereece]

Around 70 Rotherham fans were due to fly to Plymouth on Saturday at a cost of £240 per person. From what I read, I gather they were having a breakfast at a pub, then traveling to Doncaster to catch the flight to Exeter, and then finally catching a coach to Plymouth.

Turns out it was actually a scam, the guy seems to have done a runner with the money. Make sense of it if you can, I really do feel sorry for those Rotherham fans though.

boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=450&fid=215&sty=2&act=1&mid=2112891208&page=1

Edit - One post I've found from a Rotherham fan:

'Not very funny at all really is it.

Me along with at least 70 others well and truly fell for it.
It was sold as starting off at the pub the landlord owned with breakfast, then a coach to donny to get a privately chartered planeto Exeter, Tony Stewart was due to be on it with an auction of Millers memrobilia and then a coach journey to Plymouth from Exeter. So we were paying for 4 coach journeys and the privately chartered plane. It's gained local media coverage so that's how believable and far it had it got.

Seems like the landlord has gambled all our money away and find it a bit sick that people find it funny. I mean its people hard earned money that's been 'stolen' from them, there were dads taking their young children away for a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity. I don't know about some but £240 is a lot of money especially for me and it now means that I can't really afford to go to the game now, but you lot laugh away.'

[Deleted]

Someone should pay for a plane so they can all go.

Why can't we have a free plane?

Get your hand in your pocket, Robinson.

[brewereece]

Now an explanation from the guy himself:

It is with the deepest regret that I have to announce the Plymouth plane trip is cancelled and that The Hare and Hounds ceased trading under my ownership as of this morning.

The explaination for this will not bring you much comfort and for this I apologise in advance.

I MADE A HUGE MISTAKE AND FOR WEEKS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO RECTIFY IT.

In February, I agreed a deal with Marstons to take on The Town Gate pub. I set the grand opening date of Easter weekend. During the same period, The Hare and Hounds was going through a tough trading period due to the dip in trade after Xmas and then the bad spell of weather.

Stupidly and wrongly, I used some of the plane money to bolster The Hare and Hounds knowing the money could be put back from the opening of The Town Gate. Unfortunately, due to hurdles put in place by Marstons, the opening date for The Town Gate was put back. A short time later, the deal collapsed because Marstons received an offer for the purchase of the building.

I have then explored every avenue available to me to remidy the stuation and replace the money but with no success.

I AM EMBARRASSED, ASHAMED AND HUMILIATED BY WHAT I HAVE DONE AND TODAY HAVE SPOKEN TO HELEN, THE POLICE LICENSING OFFICER TO REPORT WHAT I HAVE DONE.

I WILL make every effort to compensate everyone that booked a ticket on this flight to ensure that no one is out of pocket.

Knowing that I have lost the trust you all had in me, my words may not now count for anything but I would like to say, IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION TO DO THIS. I made a mistake because it was an easy option at the time to juggle the money and I felt certain I could right the wrong as soon as the Town Gate opened. I relied to heavily on this happening,not concidering the possibility that the opening would fall through.

I CANNOT APOLOGISE ENOUGH. I will email each of the lead booking names to arrange for you to be compensated as quickly as I can.

Lee.