One Direction's Louis Tomlinson and John Ryan's Doncaster takeover left 'in serious doubt'

• Lack of funding leaves One Direction singer's takeover in 'serious doubt'
• Spokesman for Ryan revealed the celebrity takeover had been completed last month
• Rovers have twice been forced to postpone announcing the deal
• Tomlinson is a lifelong fan and played for their reserve side earlier this year
  
• Ryan had a 15-year association with Rovers until he left last November
• Football League issued statement saying Ryan failed to provide a sufficient business plan for the proposed takeover
  

By David Kent for MailOnline

Published: 17:04, 17 July 2014 | Updated: 21:51, 17 July 2014

Louis Tomlinson's joint takeover of Doncaster Rovers along with John Ryan has been left in serious doubt due to funding issues.

The duo had announced a deal to take control at the club last month following the exchange of contracts and a press conference held in London last month, and they had hoped to secure the finances required through a crowd funding initiative.

But the pair have announced they have failed in their scheme, after releasing a joint statement.

Rain on the parade: Louis Tomlinson's joint takeover of Doncaster is in serious doubt

Fan: Tomlinson is a lifelong supporter of Rovers and even appeared for their reserves last season

The Trust set up a funding scheme with the aim of raising £2million but the deadline for pledges passed on Thursday with the total more than £1million short of the target, which means Ryan will now not pass the Football League's 'fit and proper person's test'.

'The Tomlinson Ryan Trust Crowdfunder project has failed to reach the target as set out under the terms of the funding arrangements,' they said.

'The result of this will be that all pledges will be cancelled and funds returned to the relevant parties.

'As a result of the funding not being available from Crowdfunder for the DRFC project, John Ryan is unable to meet the requirements of the Football League Fit and Proper test.

'The consequence of this is that the deal to takeover the club is now in serious doubt.'

The Trust had previously stated the takeover of the club would go ahead irrespective of the success or failure of its crowdfunding project.

It is understood Ryan, who last November stepped down as Doncaster chairman thus ending a 15-year association with Rovers, met with Football League representatives this week in a bid to reassure them he and Tomlinson had the finances to run the Sky Bet League One club.

However, The Football League issued the following statement in response to comments Ryan regarding the proposed takeover of Rovers.

A spokesman said: 'In any club takeover it is a requirement for the prospective purchaser to provide a business plan and to demonstrate that the funding is in place to deliver on that plan.

'This is part of the League's ongoing efforts to ensure the financial sustainability of our clubs.

'In this case, this fundamental requirement has not yet been met. We are in close contact with the Club and will continue our dialogue.'

Pop: Tomlinson's (second left) image rights caused the takeover to be stalled on two occasions

Return: Louis and former Doncaster chairman John Ryan were set to become co-chairmen of the club

The takeover had been set for completion on Friday and will come as a huge blow to the One Direction singer who is a lifelong Doncaster supporter.

Tomlinson played for their reserve side against Scunthorpe earlier this year and had been close to a takeover before, but a move was twice delayed because of negotiations over image rights.

They had been resolved and Ryan, the lesser known of the two men, would have been the more hands-on.

The businessman has extensive football experience and oversaw Doncaster's rise from non-league to the Championship as well as their move from Belle Vue to the Keepmoat Stadium before stepping aside in November to allow Terry Bramall and Dick Watson to take over.

The initial snag had related to Tomlinson's image rights, which are owned by his management team and would entitle them to a share of any money generated from the use of his image or name.

They believe that interest in the club will increase as a result of Tomlinson's ownership and it is understood they battled for a share of any extra revenue made through merchandise and extra ticket sales.

Tomlinson signed on as a player at the start of last season in a move to make money for the Bluebell Wood charity and turned out in front of nearly 10,000 fans for the reserve team in February.

By a strange quirk, Ryan has also played for Doncaster, with the then 52-year-old having brought himself on as a substitute in a 4-2 win against Hereford which came after his club had sealed promotion from the Conference in 2003.