Stretford alleged in his October 2004 trial that he had secretly recorded boxing promoter John Hyland and two other men threatening and attempting to blackmail him for an undisclosed percentage of Rooney's earnings.
Stretford hævdede i sin retssag i oktober 2004, at han hemmeligt havde registreret boksningsinitiativtageren John Hyland (en associerende agent til Rooneys første agent), og at to andre mænd havde truet og forsøgt at afpresse ham for ikke at frigive procenter af Rooneys indtjening.