The Franklin Files

By IAN McGARRY

Published: 25 Sep 2009

THE powerbroker behind Notts County's controversial takeover is a former jailbird, The Sun can exclusively reveal.

County 'consultant' Russell King - who negotiated contracts with club supremo Sven Goran Eriksson and former player Sol Campbell - is a convicted fraudster. King was sentenced to two years in prison for an insurance scam in 1991.

The shock revelation comes 24 hours after we published an in-depth probe into who the powerbrokers are behind the mystery company that owns the League Two club, Munto Finance.

We identified King as one of the key figures at Meadow Lane, along with Nathan Willett - whose father Peter sits on the football club's board.

Munto Finance is owned by investment vehicle Qadbak - and all three are believed to be linked to the recent surprise purchase of Formula One team BMW/Sauber.

But the news that King has a prison record will raise serious questions within the Football League - and car giants BMW.

King was sentenced after faking the theft of a rare £600,000 Aston Martin car he owned, in a bid to swindle his insurance company out of the money.

His business empire - Zodiac Toys - was in financial ruin so King, 32 at the time, hid the car in a garage and reported it stolen.

On sentencing him to two years imprisonment in 1991, Mr Recorder John Blair-Gould said: "This was a deliberate attempt to swindle the insurance company out of £600,000 - an enormous sum."

King was found guilty of attempting to obtain money by deception and sent down for two years.

As SunSport revealed yesterday, King is one of the men pulling the strings at Meadow Lane.

The club's official spokesman confirmed yesterday: "Russell King is a strategic consultant to Notts County, with interests in sponsorship and marketing.

"Nathan Willett and his father Peter have known Russell for many years. Russell has been involved in discussions and negotiations on contracts and other business involving Notts County in his role as consultant.

"Nathan and Peter Willett are directors of Qadbak; Peter is the company's representative on the board of the football club."

The name 'Qadbak' is thought to represent the Middle Eastern states where backers are based, such as Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

King was understood to have flown from Heathrow to Bahrain last night, where he has a residence.

The club have less than two weeks to reveal the identity of their owners.

A Football League board meeting will consider the matter on October 8.