Club statement

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I received a call from the club shortly after the statement was released although I hadn't seen it.

Very welcome news although I can understand a level of scepticism.

From the questions I asked like 'why now?" I understand it's as a result of conversations that have been had at board level previously with key staff both from the football side and beyond, having done all they can to maximise the revenue and resources, it became clear the budget wasn't enough to guarantee the success we need considering the state of football and the economy in general, particularly post covid.

TB is, and always has been the back stop that underwrites our whole existence and he trusts everyone who works for the club to get on with their jobs and spend wisely.
To paraphrase something he apparently said "In the past, I've been asked to write a cheque for £3m but I didn't know if this was for a star striker or a tax or lecky bill"

As I remarked though, there's a  difference in perception with making up the shortfall each year to proactively committing funds to the playing budget specifically to match the desire for success fans want when we tip over our ticket money. The response I received to that was TB has indeed put this extra money up specifically for the playing budget. There's no having to wait to see what season ticket income is, they (meaning Copps and Schofield) can crack on planning for next season.

It's worth mentioning too that he champions the desire to keep football affordable when the club could easily put prices up in line with inflation etc.

Of course, there's still concerns about DS, results, players etc, but that's football all over, irrespective of what budget any club has at their disposal.

I hope too this is a shift back to pre-Covid when the money injected into the playing budget is a collective partnership between owners and fans.

Reading previous posts, and over the last couple of months S_M hinted he'd made representations along with other key personnel so it shows TB has listened and perhaps this was reinforced by what he heard at the Meet the Owners, over and above the noise from the stands.

[Bessie Red]

Some people on here.

"Do you want a 99 with sauce son?"

"No f**k off if you're not going to give me exactly the number of sprinkle I want."

And why didn't you buy me one yesterday, you t**t?

Also:

"Why isn't Brammall spending his money?"

"Why is Brammall spending his money?'

Don't forget the one that's run through this entire thread: 'I don't believe that Bramall is going to spend any money even when he's telling us he's going to'.

Yeah because maybe every single thing that has come out of that boardroom has been a total lie for the last 5 years. You can walk around with your hands over your eyes if you want too and believe the 'in the know' people on this forum, I choose not too. Once bitten twice shy. In fact fifteen times bitten....

Would you mind telling me when was the last time that TB made a statement like this, and actually lied to you as well?

Easy to throw mud, much harder to back that up.

Why would he make this statement now? To me it’s a smoke screen, to try settle fans down, to try bolster season ticket sales, to get fans on the first team coach side, big big massive smoke screen, don’t be fooled

That wasn't my point though was it?

And, the timing has come about in an answer I gave earlier, which is making an announcement earlier would have been too soon and would have undermined the work of DS/JC.

And a further point is that TB has stated he's boosting the playing budget, that means growing the budget; a budget which is set irrelevant of the season ticket sales or commercial activities.

Some people.

Yes some people are easily fooled, others aren’t

Not fooled, some of us have a better understanding of what it takes to run a football club, others just type out negative bile on a football forum.

Whatever, unsure what you mean by negative bile? I have seen some negative post from yourself and thought you we’re beginning to understand we’re fans were coming from with their negativity, Please tell me what other football club do you know that makes a statement about funding budgets this time in the season? It’s saying they have given up on this tinpot coach, when it would be more appropriate if they said if he doesn’t win our last 7 games he’s out, people are easily pleased

And how do you know for sure that he won't be sacked if he doesn't win the last 7 games?

[StocksArmy]

Id be interested now to see who we keep, who we get rid and who we bring in for next season. Its promising but, im not fully convinced just yet although, all of a sudden i feel like we have a club to support again.

[dickos1]

I find it odd that a major policy statement like this is made by TB and not the Chairman.  What tf is Blunt paid for?

I share others' concern that it is clearly stated Schofield is to be retained for next season... "he will be given the opportunity to move forward next season with the additional resources provided by Terry".  This also appears to answer another question posed on here about who puts in additional funds.  Blunt himself singling TB out as the person stumping up for the shambles that has been this season.

If blunt had come out and said this then nobody would’ve believed it, he made similar statements last summer

I think brammal making it shows he’s serious and he may have even gone against other board members to do it.
Reads to me as he’s had enough now and wants to back the club to get back to where we were before he’s too old

[Copps is Magic]

The extra funding from TB is needed and welcome from my side.

DS - I don't know what has gone wrong in the last 10 games. Before that, I felt tangible improvements (and everything was positive about his influence). I'm behind JC and DS for this summer and next season. We have an advantage now, we know which league we'll be in next season, let's do some real planning.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Very welcome and should be applauded absolutely.  We have to see what that funding delivers but it feels to me like Coppinger has been instrumental in making the points on the budget.

I absolutely can't grumble as I've spent months saying the biggest issue is the inability to compete with other clubs budget wise.

[Bentley Bullet]

Very welcome and should be applauded absolutely.  We have to see what that funding delivers but it feels to me like Coppinger has been instrumental in making the points on the budget.

I absolutely can't grumble as I've spent months saying the biggest issue is the inability to compete with other clubs budget wise.

Absolutely

[Lesonthewest]

Failure is not an option for Danny now, simple as that. We will now see just what he is all about and it might even be tomorrow he is not messing with the messenger  now.
   If I know anything about Mr Bramall it is that he does not spend money and expect nothing in return, I bet everyone is now fully informed of what is expected of them.

Agreed. It's great news & something positive & reassuring regarding the statement, but as you say I'm sure the manager has been told in no uncertain terms things have to improve. In my opinion we will be looking for another manager by October. But at least if/when that happens we should have a much better calibre of player for any new manager to work with. Great news today though & a big thankyou to TB for stepping up again.

[Upton Rover]

Some people on here.

"Do you want a 99 with sauce son?"

"No f**k off if you're not going to give me exactly the number of sprinkle I want."

And why didn't you buy me one yesterday, you t**t?

Also:

"Why isn't Brammall spending his money?"

"Why is Brammall spending his money?'

Don't forget the one that's run through this entire thread: 'I don't believe that Bramall is going to spend any money even when he's telling us he's going to'.

Yeah because maybe every single thing that has come out of that boardroom has been a total lie for the last 5 years. You can walk around with your hands over your eyes if you want too and believe the 'in the know' people on this forum, I choose not too. Once bitten twice shy. In fact fifteen times bitten....

Would you mind telling me when was the last time that TB made a statement like this, and actually lied to you as well?

Easy to throw mud, much harder to back that up.

Why would he make this statement now? To me it’s a smoke screen, to try settle fans down, to try bolster season ticket sales, to get fans on the first team coach side, big big massive smoke screen, don’t be fooled

That wasn't my point though was it?

And, the timing has come about in an answer I gave earlier, which is making an announcement earlier would have been too soon and would have undermined the work of DS/JC.

And a further point is that TB has stated he's boosting the playing budget, that means growing the budget; a budget which is set irrelevant of the season ticket sales or commercial activities.

Some people.

Yes some people are easily fooled, others aren’t

Not fooled, some of us have a better understanding of what it takes to run a football club, others just type out negative bile on a football forum.

Whatever, unsure what you mean by negative bile? I have seen some negative post from yourself and thought you we’re beginning to understand we’re fans were coming from with their negativity, Please tell me what other football club do you know that makes a statement about funding budgets this time in the season? It’s saying they have given up on this tinpot coach, when it would be more appropriate if they said if he doesn’t win our last 7 games he’s out, people are easily pleased

And how do you know for sure that he won't be sacked if he doesn't win the last 7 games?

I never said he won’t or would be sacked, I said it would’ve been a better statement if he had said if DS doesn’t win the last 7 games he’s sacked, after all it reads as though the board are happy to start next season in L2 and it doesn’t matter if we have a bigger budget than every other team in L2 next season, it’s how these inapt coaches will use it

[tyke1962]

Very welcome news I'd imagine for Rovers fans that more money is going in to next season's playing budget .

As many have already pointed out it needs to be spent wisely and not only that it needs to be spent on players who can deliver the playing style Rovers fans want to see .

It's also to be hoped that those tasked with recruitment at Rovers start coming up with some decent players and not some of the dross you've had to endure for a while now .

This isn't just about funding this requires more importantly some football brains .

The kind of football brains that identifies the talent required not only to get you out of league two but make a bloody good fist of it back at league one level too .

The strategy should be young talent that can improve and develop in to A+ League One / Championship standard with two or three experienced players who have been around the block to help them along .

Norwood's 12 month deal is up in June , if we go up it's highly unlikely he'll be offered a new one in the championship and it's not certain what the position would be if we remain in league one .

Go and get the bugga if you can because that's the sort of signing that would make an impact as well as bring George Miller on too .

[Donnybax]

We could have Ronaldo and Messi in their prime, and DS would still only play one of them up front on their own?

Number of strikers isn’t the problem, most of the best sides in the country and Europe play with one striker

exactly that. It’s the number of midfielders we play. You can’t play 5 defenders and 2 centre midfielders it’s absolutely brainless

[ncRover]

I’ve said this before, if it’s not 2 up front it has to be 3 in midfield.

[Chris Black come back]

I find it odd that a major policy statement like this is made by TB and not the Chairman.  What tf is Blunt paid for?

I share others' concern that it is clearly stated Schofield is to be retained for next season... "he will be given the opportunity to move forward next season with the additional resources provided by Terry".  This also appears to answer another question posed on here about who puts in additional funds.  Blunt himself singling TB out as the person stumping up for the shambles that has been this season.

If blunt had come out and said this then nobody would’ve believed it, he made similar statements last summer

I think brammal making it shows he’s serious and he may have even gone against other board members to do it.
Reads to me as he’s had enough now and wants to back the club to get back to where we were before he’s too old

Bramall.

I am similarly perplexed as to why people are complaining. This guy - who is under no obligation to do this - is putting his hand in his pocket to use his own money to provide entertainment for us, with no hope of ever getting any of it back.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Extra money is welcome but i really don’t think lack of funds is our main problem.

I hope it’s spent well. Personally I wouldn’t trust DS with any of it so I hope for TB’s sake that DS either turns it around or is removed before the end of the season.

[i_ateallthepies]

I find it odd that a major policy statement like this is made by TB and not the Chairman.  What tf is Blunt paid for?

I share others' concern that it is clearly stated Schofield is to be retained for next season... "he will be given the opportunity to move forward next season with the additional resources provided by Terry".  This also appears to answer another question posed on here about who puts in additional funds.  Blunt himself singling TB out as the person stumping up for the shambles that has been this season.

If blunt had come out and said this then nobody would’ve believed it, he made similar statements last summer

I think brammal making it shows he’s serious and he may have even gone against other board members to do it.
Reads to me as he’s had enough now and wants to back the club to get back to where we were before he’s too old

Bramall.

I am similarly perplexed as to why people are complaining. This guy - who is under no obligation to do this - is putting his hand in his pocket to use his own money to provide entertainment for us, with no hope of ever getting any of it back.

I completely agree, Dickos, but my point was to question what is the point of Blunt when he obviously isn't doing a Chairman's job.

CBcb, also agreed on TB.  You would think it would silence the nay-sayers but not a chance.

[Donny Exile in York]

Welcome Bramal'sl late investment. Why now, season ticket sales down and pressure building also in the media and fan base. Why not two years ago instead of letting the thing slide downwards. I take the statement on DS as a vote of confidence, but given he will only have half a squad available and from that mostly players out of contract and hopefully being shipped on then i would say we won't get the results in the last number of games for him to keep his job, 1 win in 9, going to be a tall order for him to improve his win ratio in the remaining games, so i can't imagine he will be here come pre-season training for all those berating the comments about DS. If he proves this wrong, fair play as he is up against it with the players available and those he must now rely on out of contract at the end of the season.

Irrespective of all this, and Bramall's welcome injection, Blunt needs to go ASAP.

[Pliskin]

Looks like a significant and sincere intervention from Mr Bramall. The playing budget is going up, to what extent and what impact it'll have, only time will tell.

And like it or not, Danny Schofield is being backed will be given a chance to build his own team and make a proper go of it next season. Sounds like Coppinger still backs him to come good and Bramall is going to provide more resources but otherwise leaving the football decisions to others.

I'm sceptical of this ownership and of the current head coach, and don't believe all problems can be solved just with a bigger playing budget. So yes, let's remain sceptical, but I do think that the people who've been directing toxic chants towards them really ought to put a sock in it and see how things play out, especially on the back of this announcement.

[normal rules]

All eyes will be on close season and beyond.
Immediate clear out of players not part of the plan/ out of contract.
Pretty sharpish acquisition of proven quality at this level then needed asap to develop and build a squad before 23/24 season begins.
DS and JC alone will be judged on those they acquire.
They will be judged, and pretty quickly on performances next season.
There has to be a sign of dramatic change.
Their heads are very much above the parapet now.
But first, let’s see just what this extra investment actually transpires as.
I still don’t see any points between now and season end.
A lot has to change before August.

[ravenrover]

I love how a bunch of non entities in the South stand making a few derogatory chants, probably not even heard in the East stand, with a couple of home made banners which can't be read 20 yards away think they are the reason TB has made this statement.
Deluded
SM has said on several occasions over the past few weeks something was coming and here it is and the usual suspects just can't accept it for what it is.

[Copps is Magic]

In other news. I didn't realise TB was 80 years old. What's the contingency plan then? What happens to the club after... does it go to his family?

[Campsall rover]

I feel like a broken record.
I must have said the same thing a dozen times on this forum in the last 2 weeks. 

but you’re right tho lad and echo the sentiments of many of us on here. The football is there for all to see and it’s disgusting. Keep banging the drum.

Oh don’t worry I will Cramby. I will.

I can’t be doing with these idiots that say sack the board. We need to be very very thankful we don’t have a Peter Swan as our owner or that guy at Bury that bankrupted them or many many others.
TB has been a brilliant custodian of our proud football club. Make no mistake.
It’s just a pity he isn’t a football fanatic like many of us.

GB has been brilliant for this football club and without him, Sean Lockwood and many others who work their socks off to bring in revenue into the club we would not be the financially sound club we are without TB forking out some very considerable sums, year on year over and above what he already covers such as electric bills of over £300.000 per yr.

The problem has been and still is DB. He was put in charge by TB and he is the man that has presided over our dramatic fall over the last 26 months.
He is accountable for the recruitment of Managers and Coaches at this football club.  He sets the budget for the football operation of the Club.
Yes Copps wanted DS as head coach so he has to hold his hands up and admit he got it wrong.
Well I fear he will have to come next October when we are looking for our next Manager. ( well I hope it is a Manager ) not some youth coach with zero managerial experience.

But DB is now hiding behind Copps isn’t he. Copps was put in this position by Blunt  Never has he come out and admitted he has made mistakes.
No not once. He will allow Copps to take all the flak.
DB just keeps telling us porkies regarding budgets and we are going to bounce back decisively statements that have no substance.
His leadership or at least the perception of his leadership is rock bottom with Rovers supporters.
That’s because he is so silent, so conspicuous by his absence. Most people would’nt even know him if they inadvertently bumped into him.

I am delighted TB has come out personally with this statement because I genuinely believe he wants to give the Doncaster public a football team we can all be proud of.
He can’t be happy how his lieutenant has presided over this abject failure of the last 2 & one third seasons.

I really hope TB has spelt it out that failure will no longer be tolerated and he expects his investment to be wisely used.
Keeping DS as coach will I fear end in tears. This decision to keep him is based on what exactly.
Over to you DB and Copps.

[scawsby steve]

Money has been spent before . To no avail . More money will now be spent . We shall see what outcome it has . Plenty on here have evidence based pessimism

And others are just pessimistic by nature.... and voice it at every available opportunity.  To be fair pessimists are usually right and optimists are usually wrong........... but only great changes are accomplished by optimists.....

You'll never see a rainbow if you're looking downwards

No, and you'll never see a pile of dogsh*t that you're walking through if you're looking upwards.

[Chris Black come back]

In other news. I didn't realise TB was 80 years old. What's the contingency plan then? What happens to the club after... does it go to his family?

I think that’s the whole point of making the club self-sustaining…

[sedwardsdrfc]

All eyes will be on close season and beyond.
Immediate clear out of players not part of the plan/ out of contract.
Pretty sharpish acquisition of proven quality at this level then needed asap to develop and build a squad before 23/24 season begins.
DS and JC alone will be judged on those they acquire.
They will be judged, and pretty quickly on performances next season.
There has to be a sign of dramatic change.
Their heads are very much above the parapet now.
But first, let’s see just what this extra investment actually transpires as.
I still don’t see any points between now and season end.
A lot has to change before August.

Yes could go very badly if we sign players on more money and then start next season with similar performances to what DS has been able to show so far. The waste will be more painful knowing we’ve had a short term boost.

I know the risk would be present whoever the manager was but we have seen a fair bit of DS now and there’s not that much to suggest he’d have us in a promotion push with a bit more money.

I’d feel much more confident if we started the summer with a managers who has had some experience and understands that pragmatism in playing style will be needed to get the best chance of 3pts.

With DS I feel if we sign better players our possession stats might look better and we might draw a few more but we won’t win enough to be challenging for top 3. Which is where we should be!

[Glyn_Wigley]

In other news. I didn't realise TB was 80 years old. What's the contingency plan then? What happens to the club after... does it go to his family?

This is the whole point of TB's plan to make sure Rovers aren't dependent on outside finance for survival. And that's what a lot of people misunderstand - sustainability  doesn't mean success, it means a continued existence.

[Bentley Bullet]

Sustainability means the ability to be maintained at a certain level. In Rovers' case, the concern is what level that will be.

[Glyn_Wigley]

If your fixed costs are greater than your income you ain't sustainable at any level.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Sustainability means the ability to be maintained at a certain level. In Rovers' case, the concern is what level that will be.

Read Bramall's words. He wants us higher than L2.

And as SM has said countless times, the sustainability model works better at L1 than it does at L2.

I find it astonishing how many people have responded to today's news with a "See, I told you we were going to carrying on downhill" tone.

What exactly do some folk want?

[TommyC]

So giving the board the benefit of the doubt and if I'm understanding this correctly, the budget that was going to allow us to "bounce back decisively" that was promised this season, was indeed put in place but they have since discovered it wasn't enough? If so then I suppose that's forgivable.

That aside though, we have very recently been told that this season's budget is top 6/top 10/top half (take your pick). Presumably then, this means that after the significant investment now promised on top of that, our budget for next season should comfortably place us in League 1 comparatively. 

Great news if true. As I have repeated way too many times, Baldwin himself confirmed that budget equates to League positon. Whilst I'm not convinced by our current management or that they are the best people to spend it wisely, I still believe that it begins and ends with the budget.
Darren Moore is a walking talking example of how a village idiot can still deliver success if the budget is big enough. Hopefully DS and JC can confound their doubters in similar fashion once they are financially equipped to do so.

[Bentley Bullet]

Sustainability means the ability to be maintained at a certain level. In Rovers' case, the concern is what level that will be.

Read Bramall's words. He wants us higher than L2.

And as SM has said countless times, the sustainability model works better at L1 than it does at L2.

I find it astonishing how many people have responded to today's news with a "See, I told you we were going to carrying on downhill" tone.

What exactly do some folk want?

I've read Bramall's words and I'm in full support of his ambition.

I hope you're not referring to me regarding a negative response to TB's announcement.