Just giving fundraiser

[Padge_DRFC]

We'll see at the end of January won't we.

Tomlin's wage
Whatever Andrews wage we paid
Knoyle wage and fee
Substantial funds for January before any of this

2 weeks left. If we're sat with the same squad in 2 weeks then we've been fed bullshit again.

[scawsby steve]

Whilst I don't agree with the "protest" or the fundraiser I do have sympathy for the group of fans who have seen a decline in quality and ambition in recent years. We've moved from a 5 year plan to being a championship club to now one that is self sufficient and is probably an average L2 budget.

The club haven't helped themselves in communication and organization in recent years; propaganda about having strong budgets.

Poor spending and poor managerial appointments to horrendous scouting and recruitment.

What doesn't help matters are the people on this forum who insult fellow Rovers fans (and often base on age) in discriminatory manners.

The transfer window (although not closed yet) had people hoping for good recruiting (especially after losing Taylor for the season and Tomlin quitting) losing Knoyle our most improved player this season and best wing back (in a system that specializes in using wing backs) to an "ambitious" club has seen a reaction (in my view an over reaction).

The truth probably lies somewhere between the 2 fractions of our fans... But it appears there is little to no respect between those groups and that includes people on here.

RTID

A very fair and well balanced post, CR.

[Jonathan]

I think it’s much less about the future of the club and much more about satisfying attention cravings on the part of those driving it. The outcome is likely to gain a bit of traction within a social media echo chamber and deliver on its aim of achieving a bit of infamy amongst a small group. There’ll be likes exchanging hands over the place, but will it actually do anything of any real note? Of course not. Let them get on with it, we were all kids once.

[hamiltonrover]

I agree with the sentiment of the original post and have previously been vocal of my support for the board, the money they have invested over the years has been considerable. I’m ok with things as they are at the moment.
My expectations aren’t high, I’ve watched Rovers play more games in L2 (or it’s equivalent name at the time) than any other and often at the bottom end, but for those under 30ish they’ve probably not seen those struggles and only seen relative success over the past couple of decades, so I can understand why some may be frustrated.
Sustainability I’m ok with, but there are some things that do cause a little concern, at what expense are we sustainable and to continue to be sustainable does that mean a further reduction in expenditure?
IMO we should also stop talking about future plans, even with the greatest of intentions they rarely succeed, every club is trying to achieve the same goals, by having the 5 year plan/talk of promotion/not being in a relegation battle your setting yourself up for a fall, surely our aim is to finish in the highest position we can each season, leave it there.
My other concern are the comments from Knoyle on his departure around ambition, leading me to my final point, I’m not clear whether the board are looking for further investment or have any plans to sell imminently, but think they should provide clarity on this. It’d be interesting to see if anyone of serious intent would actually be interested in buying DRFC, I’m not sure, but if no interest, it might quieten down some of those who are ‘board out’.

[roversdude]

Can the board actually be sacked considering that they own the club ?

[Daniel_Smith]

Can the board actually be sacked considering that they own the club ?

No. If fans want change, the owners need to sell. I honestly don't believe anyone is seriously interested in buying Rovers though. Certainly not for the money the owners would be wanting.

[Chris Black come back]

People are hanging on for a fantasy. The reality is that we don’t have and will never have crowds to support a prolonged Championship club. We got relegated from the Championship in 2012 after several seasons there spending way beyond our means. This was the chimera of “investment” that some people are calling for.

At best we are a Rotherham, Peterborough or Barnsley. The difference between us and them is not really money but rather them having a model and especially a recruitment model that gives them a regular shot at getting out of League One. We don’t.

People calling for change need to get away from asking for more money and start asking for a better model. There is no billionaire behind Rotherham, Barnsley and Peterborough.

[normal rules]

For the rest of my life, and I’m 53, if rovers continue as a lge 1/ 2 club, then I’m ok with that.
I’ve enjoyed some very good times in both leagues. And the flirt in the championship was nice, but after the novelty wore off , it’s just footy at the end of the day.
As long as there is a club for my youngest son to enjoy throughout his life also, and his kids after that, and he is 25, then all will be good.
I’d love to own a Porsche, but I’m very happy with my Vw up. It’s get me where I want, it’s quite nice to drive and is reliable. I see footy the same way.
If I had a Porsche, I’d be worried about it getting damaged and they are bloody expensive to run.

[roversdude]

The problem is if we spent and somehow got back in the championship would that be enough for our Football Manager lot - would they be happy with the Prem or would it need to be Champions League.
Besides which as soon as we lost a game or played badly they’d stop going and demand a new manager

Maybe they’d be better watching Doncaster City

[Chris Black come back]

I don’t think in all reality we are going to be an established Championship side, without some huge external investment. What we should be aiming for is an established top half League One side. That’s achievable and the third tier is a decent level, especially at the top, where often there are some very big clubs in the mix. That feels realistic and achievable if we get our act together, recruit consistently well and stop appointing the wrong people as manager. All this can be done on our existing budget.

[Filo]

I don’t think in all reality we are going to be an established Championship side, without some huge external investment. What we should be aiming for is an established top half League One side. That’s achievable and the third tier is a decent level, especially at the top, where often there are some very big clubs in the mix. That feels realistic and achievable if we get our act together, recruit consistently well and stop appointing the wrong people as manager. All this can be done on our existing budget.

How do we avoid appointing the wrong people as manager? It’s a lottery, look at Mark Hughes at Bradford, big name managed bigger clubs but pulling no tree’s up there

[Copps is Magic]

While I won't be partaking in any protest we do seem to be dribbling into irrelevance under the ideology of sustaining our own existence.

The recent New Year's statement from the club was very surprising (or maybe not). It seemingly confirmed TB has abandoned any notion of putting money into the club other than to sort out 'cash flow' problems. Sustainability in terms of increasing the commercial revenues of the club is commendable and we've made improvements. Sustainability in terms of not investing in the club is not a recipe for a successful football/rugby club.

The one saving grace has been at least some new thinking in terms of the football strategy. Young players, DS is better than his predecessor, HoF: all of this will of course take time which I am willing to give, but things like losing one of your best performers this year and replacing them with an untried youth player, well, its not a good sign is it. It's these marginal sideways steps that seem to be a symptom of our position and the cause of our resulting downfall.

[karlos]

Whilst it’s good that the club is self sustainable it won’t be long before the crowds start getting that low that it is not sustainable. Us older folks won’t be around forever and the younger ones will find such as Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds and Sheffield united a lot more attractive to go and watch so we have to be careful what ever the club decides to do. Saying all that everybody knows that being a football owner will never make you money and it is more of a hobby than a business. But you still need passion to come out from the top and since John Ryan left there as been none, plenty of words but no actual drive. For me until we have such as a regular reserve side and better recruitment nothing will change but you have to have the right people in to drive club forward.
People say nobody will buy the club but how do you know this until the waters have been tested?.

[Padge_DRFC]

Whilst it’s good that the club is self sustainable it won’t be long before the crowds start getting that low that it is not sustainable. Us older folks won’t be around forever and the younger ones will find such as Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds and Sheffield united a lot more attractive to go and watch so we have to be careful what ever the club decides to do. Saying all that everybody knows that being a football owner will never make you money and it is more of a hobby than a business. But you still need passion to come out from the top and since John Ryan left there as been none, plenty of words but no actual drive. For me until we have such as a regular reserve side and better recruitment nothing will change but you have to have the right people in to drive club forward.
People say nobody will buy the club but how do you know this until the waters have been tested?.

School will be like how it used to when I went the way we are going. Literally nobody supported Rovers in the 90s. For about 10 years from our rise out the conference. Parks were dominated by Rovers shirts. Now it's Leeds Liverpool etc. Might also be the last few years of terrible shirts too.

[Sammy Chung was King]

I thought when I saw the posts headline, it was fans bucket collecting for a new signing. That would have been more constructive than nicking your old mams sheets, to protest against the Three AB’s, messrs Bramhall, Baldwin and Blunt.

[Glyn_Wigley]

But you don't get your photo all over social media holding a bucket...

[Canadian Rover]

The fans that are protesting at least still care. It's the ones that now have stopped caring that should be a concern.

The feeling is low. Low on ambition, low on effort, low on communication and low on squad strength and low on morale (in the stands at least).

Things need to improve. If they don't people will stop caring.

[normal rules]

There were 300 odd at Orient who still cared.
No booing.
No slating of players.
No shouts of sack the board.
I believe we are talking about a minority here. A loud minority, but a minority non the less.

[Canadian Rover]

There were 300 odd at Orient who still cared.
No booing.
No slating of players.
No shouts of sack the board.
I believe we are talking about a minority here. A loud minority, but a minority non the less.

But what about the silent minority (excuse the name Martin) are we going to see people just give up based on the transfer window and the previous 4 or 5 (or) can we still hold hope for improvements in the playing squad. Without a good couple of weeks I do fear for our long-term ambition.

[roversdude]

But we can’t judge a transfer window only half way through it surely

[Donnywolf]

Interesting, not many prepared to put their names to a donation, a lot mis representing others by putting false names in, so very few are prepared to identify themselves

  It would get more support if it was a “For Sale” sign !!

Yes it could go outside (the old joke) large Terraced property for Sale

Complete with 5000 square yards of enclosed Grazing land and of great quality

Owner selling due to lack of interest

Apply Belle Vue , Doncaster.




To paraphrase what so many say in posts above "if you think THIS is bad you should have been about when it was immesurably bad"

I don't think it's great at the moment but look at (effectively) Leagues 5 and 6 at the number of EX Football League Clubs languishing down there with their hard luck stories , their mismanagement stories and their god given right to be in the EFL stances

That's at least 26 and I have no desire to swap places with any of them thanks v much

[roversdude]

Maybe the organisers can club together with Portsmouth fans

[normal rules]

These so called supporters would soon fizzle into the quiet corner if and when rovers start playing better.
And if promoted, they would disappear altogether.
Probably like the iPhones they carry around, they always want the next best thing.
And whilst wanting better is not such a bad thing, it is if you are overstretching yourself into areas you can’t afford.

[selby]

  £474 raised by 50 people, that's what I call cheap skates trying to save the world on less than a tenner each contributions, not even the price of two pints, god save the club if they take over, they cant even raise enough to fund cheap skate rovers in the junior league and they want to make a noise, bugger off, you'd get more sat in a shop door way with a dog.

[EasyforDennis]

These so called supporters would soon fizzle into the quiet corner if and when rovers start playing better.
And if promoted, they would disappear altogether.
Probably like the iPhones they carry around, they always want the next best thing.
And whilst wanting better is not such a bad thing, it is if you are overstretching yourself into areas you can’t afford.

Isn't "playing better football and getting promoted" what we all want? In general today's youngsters are part of the "I want it and I want now" generation. I am sure if the club appeared to be showing a bit more ambition they would soon calm down.

[roversdude]

  £474 raised by 50 people, that's what I call cheap skates trying to save the world on less than a tenner each contributions, not even the price of two pints, god save the club if they take over, they cant even raise enough to fund cheap skate rovers in the junior league and they want to make a noise, bugger off, you'd get more sat in a shop door way with a dog.

Worse than that one gobsh*te put £100 in