There hasn’t been much for fans off League Two side Tranmere Rovers to get excited about in the past few years, but suddenly things could be looking up. In fact, given the latest reports, some might say the club future looks bright, or rather, bright like a diamond.
Since being relegated from League One in the infamous Covid-19 affected 2019/20 season, Rovers have failed to bounce back with promotion.
In fact, in the four full seasons since, their performances have slowly dwindled, finishing 7th, 9th, 12th, and then 16th in the most recent 2023/24 campaign
However, in a shock development, US rapper A$AP Rocky is said to be preparing to buy a stake in the club. The boyfriend of global music star Rihanna is reportedly committed to being part of an investment group interested in a takeover deal.
According to the Sun, the 36-year-old has joined forces with celebrity lawyer Joe Tacopina, who is said to be leading the takeover bid. Current proposals would seemingly mean paying a £15million fee for an 80 per cent stake in the club.
An associate of the pair said: “Rocky is tight with Joe and has committed to the Tranmere bid. Joe has been to Tranmere matches and Rocky has plans to go over too after the deal is completed. We may even see Rihanna watching League Two football.
“Joe thinks Tranmere, a famous club near to Liverpool, is undervalued and that by clever marketing and celebrity endorsement he can transform it. With the likes of Rocky on board, maybe so.”
It’s a notion that would have seemed far-fetched a decade ago, but the presence of global celebrities in British football is now becoming an increasingly common theme. And Tranmere fans may excitedly point to the influence of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney since they completed their own takeover deal at Wrexham.
The pair have overseen promotion from the National League and League Two in successive seasons. And Saturday’s 1-0 win over Rotherham left them second in the League One table behind Birmingham City, who themselves have been boosted by the financial impact of NFL icon Tom Brady.
However, while Rihanna rocking up at Prenton Park would spark a frenzy, the current headlines around her partner may not be so welcomed by current Tranmere owner Mark Palios. This week, he’s set to stand trial after pleading not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, is accused of shooting a friend after an argument near a Hollywood hotel on November 6, 2021. Tacopina is defend him.
