Town’s RL and football clubs defeat winding up petitions

THE COMPANIES behind both Doncaster Rovers Football Club and Doncaster Rugby League Club, which share a stadium in the town, have successfully fought off winding-up petitions.

Doncaster Rovers Ltd and Doncaster Rugby League Club Ltd appeared separately at the Insolvency and Companies Court in London yesterday.

The clubs, which both play in their respective leagues at Keepmoat Stadium, are both led by director Gavin Baldwin, according to information lodged at Companies House.

Mr Baldwin is also chief executive of both clubs.

Judge Sally Barber was told by the barrister for HM Revenue & Customs, which was seeking winding up petitions against both companies, that in each case the debt had been paid and she asked for the petitions to be dismissed.

The amount of the debts was not disclosed.

The judge agreed and dismissed both winding up petitions.

Had the company been wound up its affairs would effectively have been handed over to an Official Receiver.

His job would then have been to do his best to ensure that debts are paid off by selling any assets available and then bringing business to a close.

Doncaster Rovers compete in League One – the third of English football – and have played at Keepmoat Stadium since 2007.

The club was formed in 1879 by a fitter at the Great Northern Railway works in the town and later became the main football club in the town.

The club chairman is now David Blunt of the Keepmoat construction company.

Doncaster rugby league club was set up in 1951 and play in the third tier, League One, having had a chequered history and has played at five locations across the town including most famously at Tattersfield.