Meet the Owners

[PDX_Rover]

6.30pm And we are underway

Those gathered are welcomed to the event by master of ceremonies Jonathan Heath. The top table of Terry Bramall, Gavin Baldwin and Grant McCann are introduced to the audience with hearty applause following.

6.31pm Question from Jonathan Heath for TB on his excitement for the Crystal Palace game.

"I am not as excited because of the fact we are playing on a Monday night. I am excited because this will be the second Premier League team we have played this season. We had a wonderful evening at Goodison Park earlier this season and I was excited for the team that they ran out in front of 37,000 people. We didn't disgrace ourselves that night.

"We know Crystal Palace keep winning at the moment so it's up to you Grant to deal with that."

6.34pm Question from Jonathan Heath for GB about the decision to host it on a Monday night being out of the club's hands

"We were hoping it was going to be a Saturday where we could launch a lot of things the Matchday Experience Group has been working on. From our point of view, we are feeling bitter. Replays have gone and you would have thought they would look after us by giving us a Saturday game but that has not happened."

6.35pm Question from Jonathan Heath to GM on preparations for the Palace game.

GM: "It's not ideal and it hurts the preparation going into the next game. It unbalances the week. For the financial side of it for the club, it's not great. We've got to concentrate on the football side of things and see what we can do. Palace are in great form, they have three England internationals in the team. It's exciting for us and the fans and we hope we can have this place bouncing."

6.37pm - First question from the audience. To GB, who does have an input on when the Palace game is played?

GB: "It's dictated by the TV companies. We have looked to make it accessible for supporters with the ticketing prices. Palace had no input either. All clubs got an increase in broadcast distribution monies and the price for that was not having any say over TV scheduling."

6.39pm - Question to GM about the young lads currently out on loan and whether they will form a core of the team in the future?

GM: "They are contracted here because we feel they can contribute. What is important at this moment in time is the first team and making sure it's up to scratch and being moe consistent than we have been recently. We've worked really hard on getting loan experience for the young players because it's really important they play games. We can't give that to them at this moment in time."

6.40pm - Question to GM on whether he thinks Rovers can 'football' their way out of the division.

GM: "I think we've got a really good team and squad and thanks to Terry and Gavin for giving us the finances to do it. I think we've showed we can challenge for the majority of the season. Walsall are doing what we did late last season. I do believe if anyone can do that other than Walsall, it's us. We've shown we can play through teams that want to sit in. I think we've played better and lost than what we did at Gillingham at the weekend."

6.42pm - Question to GM on whether there will be outgoings this month and any permanent signings for the future in the summer?

GM: "Outgoings - we've feel like we've got a bloated squad at this moment in time. There's 25/26 first team players when all are fit. We were struggling to pick a bench at the start of last season and we have no such problems now. We have spoken to some players about going out to play football between now and the end of the season. That will hopefully happen.

"In terms of future planning, we are always planning. When the window shuts we'll go straight into planning for next season and we've got a really good team doing that."

6.45pm - Comment from the audience on the improvements in the catering on the concourse. Have we run out of bulbs for the floodlights? The tannoy system is not up to scratch either.

GB: "The floodlights are tested every year and they are Championship standard at this stage. As it gets closer to the end of the year, bulbs will go out. As long as they pass the tests, we will leave them because it is costly.

"When the stadium was procured, they were told they should spend £600,000 on a tannoy system and they spent £200,000. There are 20 miles of cabling. We are working with a local company to see how we can make it better, turn it up in the bowl and down with the concourses. The FA brought in huge temporary speakers for the Women's international game and they were excellent. We are looking at options. There's different technology than from when the stadium was built. Do we put £600,000 into the tannoy or the team, or find a balance? It is questions we are discussing."

6.49pm - Adrian Sullivan from new front-of-shirt sponsors Pass Logistics is introduced to the audience.

He discusses how much the sponsorship deal means to him and his family as a passionate Rovers fan before talking about the growth of his company in a short space of time. "I want to see the club back in the Championship and I'm passionate about that. I'm not here for a short while - I want to be involved around the club for many years to come."

6.56pm - Submitted question to GB. Can you tell us about the training ground developments?

GB: "The background was that GM put myself and TB under pressure to improve the facilities. The gym and medical facilities were tired, to put it mildly. We spent arund £330,000 on medical bills last season. We've spent just under £60,000 so far this season and Dave Rennie can take a lot of credit for that. It was important for us to invest in the health of the players, to make them more robust. And it helps when trying to attract players that we have a brand new facility."

GM: "I don't know how long the gym has been there but it got to the point where it wasn't fit for purpose for the players to be in there. They couldn't do jump testing because they'd hit the roof. We also just needed a bit more space. When I spoke to GB and TB about it, the fact. When I first came back, we brought a lot of the new signings to the stadium to show them around rather than the training ground. We want to get back to the Championship and that's a journey. The training ground is a big part of that and we want it to be a place they want to stay rather than going home quickly."

GB: "It can only happen with TB. It's not just money, he puts far more in than that. You worry about conversations over money but it was probably the easiest conversation we've had. He saw it is an excellent investment. Without TB this would not be happen and it's a significant change that is happening."

TB: "The weights kept dropping through the floor! It's not what you want. I didn't act as quickly as Grant and Dave wanted me to because that would have involved putting in another Portacabin. I wanted a permanent building that would make a real difference."

7.03pm - Submitted question - when will money be made available for a U21 or Reserve team to help build players towards the first team.

GM: "It's definitely something we're looking to do. We have all spoken about it. At this moment in time, with the division we're in, not many teams at this level have a reserve team and it does cost a lot of money. U21 football is okay but the main part of developing players is them playing men's football. It's something we will look at if we make it through the leagues because we do want to produce our own."

GB: "It's similar to the tannoy system - do we spend the money elsewhere on the first team. We've done an extensive piece of work on the costings and there is a lot to it."

7.05pm - Question from the floor - is there any movement on the stadium sponsor?

GB: "Eco-Power are here for this season and next season. They have been excellent and they have made it clear they are willing to talk over the future but they have also said they will be happy to step aside should we get another offer that could change our world."

7.07pm - Question on referees and linesmen. Have they ever read a rulebook? It makes me so angry how our players are treated!

GM: "I think I speak for a lot of managers in the league that we do get frustrated with the inconsistency. You're not human if you don't make mistakes. The inconsistency is frustrating but it is the same for everyone. The higher you go, the better referees you get. We have to accept it. We need to be at the top end of this division because you tend to get the better referees."

GB: How many people in the room would want VAR at this level? (Only a very small handful raise their hands).

7.10pm - Grant, did you get booked on Saturday at Gillingham?

GM: "I did. And Adam (Grice, club secretary) informs me I'm one away from a ban."

7.12pm - MD of Stuart Thacker of training ground developers WorkBox Direct is introduced to the audience.

ST discusses the growth of the company. "We are currently working with Aston Villa on a development. We've worked with Nottingham Forest and Notts County."

ST discusses the plans for the new facilities at the training ground and fitting them in with the planners' determination for environmentally friendly spaces. "It's purpose-built. It's designed around the club. The training ground was inherited and needed to be adapted around. This is a chance to make it your own."

ST says all is progressing well in planning and the hope is for a spring start date. "The aim is to get the players in the new facility within the first month of next season."

7.22pm - Another submitted question to GB. What is the role of Shadow Board? Do they contribute anything of value to the club and supporters?

GB points out the members of the Shadow Board present. "I think fans need to be massively grateful for the Shadow Board. They challenge us on the top table over the decisions we make. They act as critical friends and they are challenging.

"We went with a plan for season tickets last year and they challenged that with positive success. They have challenged us with the Matchday Experience Group and we are examining all sorts of things that have come from that.

"Different heads of department across the club meet with the Shadow Board. They are held to account.

"It works well because they are honest and blunt, but equally they are passionate about wanting us to do well."

Shadow Board chair Derek Daniels is introduced. He encourages the question asker to reach out and speak to members of the Shadow Board.

DD: "Myself and the vice chair James put around 40 hours a week into the Shadow Board, speaking to the club, to supporters, challenging. I always get a response from Gavin at all hours of the day and night. There is nothing they will not address. We don't get an input in the players.

"No one is off-limits to us. There are other clubs in this area that could only dream of the engagement we have got. People come from all over to be part of the Shadow Board and represent you. We are all Rovers mad and we are as desperate as anyone to get back into the league we belong.

"Mr Bramall's values for community are off the scale. He doesn't like getting the plaudits but he deserves the credit."

7.29pm - Question submitted to TB. Are you fully invested in Doncaster Rovers and, if so, what gives you the motivation?

TB: "I'd like that person to give me his definition of 'fully invested.' Have I run out of money? Not yet. Am I working hard to continue the upward trend of Club Doncaster? We are working hard on bringing more success and especially in the community. It is why myself and Dick Watson joined John Ryan in 2006. There was no way we wanted Doncaster - a community that had supported our business - to lose its football club. We felt very strongly about helping John continue his work.

"I've been chairman for just over a year and I've really enjoyed being involved. I've enjoyed working with Grant and all the staff that are here at the back. The reward for it is evenings like this where I see nearly 200 of you and I know how much it means to you. There's a few more thousand people in Doncaster to whom this club means so much. To have that is so humbling."

7.33pm - Submitted question. What happens when you are no longer with us? What is the succession plan?

TB: "It's actually a very sensible question. It's something I've given a lot of thought to. I'm pleased to say that I'm feeling fit as a fiddle and I'm enjoying working with the staff. My daughters look after our businesses and philanthropic activities. It gives me more time to devote to this role and I don't think a day goes by without me communicating with Gavin.

"We want to support the team on the pitch. We want everyone in Club Doncaster to feel the support. It's more than what goes on on the pitch. We want to help turn Doncaster into a proper city and we know the power of the club. We know through the results the Club Doncaster Sports College are achieving that we are making an impact. That augers well for the employability in the city.

"What we're working to is to develop an objective for everyone to get behind. We have a lot to do. It's how you get all the people going down the same road and driving towards the same objective. We all feel it when we lose and we don't want Grant to feel any worse than we do. We want to give him support and we can do that through integration.

"Believe me we are working very hard on that.

"On succession, when the club is successful and we have all our ducks in a row, it will be easy because people will be queing up to take my place."

7.38pm - Having heard of the lack of communication between another local chairman and his manager, can we have insight into how you communicate about transfers?

GM: "We communicate all the time and that is really healthy for the club. We met three months ago to discuss what we wanted to do and it showed the value with how quickly we completed our business this month."

GB: "There is a mixture of formal meetings with meetings in the diary for months ahead. But we speak daily, both myself and Grant and myself and Terry. When we meet formally, we measure progress. Grant challenges Terry and I but we challenge him also. It's all in the right spirit and it's all designed for us to get us the promotion that we want."

7.40pm - Question from the player - are there any players out of favour?

GM: "Absolutely not. We've got a strong squad that all train really well. People always want to ask you about the players that aren't playing rather than those that are and are doing well. We are never going to do anything with just ten players. We saw in the second half of last season when we had players pushing each other.

"One or two know they need to go and play football to help themselves for next season and beyond. But we train together every single day and we are working together. We only bring players to this club that are good people and we have no idiots in there."

7.43pm - Could we bring the general sale for some of the away games forward to help with planning for coach travel?

GB passes over to Shaun Lockwood. "Yes, we can do that."

7.44pm - Are there plans for the stadium to house more events in the summer?

GB: "We're in on-going discussions about a boxing event in the summer. With Donnyfest, we want to have set events in the diary each year. We're working with the RFU on more Challenge Cup semi-finals. It may be more significant events but fewer but we make them massive. We want to help grow Donnyfest and make it bigger."

7.45pm - What are your opinions on the season so far? Would you consider the season a failure if we don't get promoted?

GM: "I was thinking about the position we were in this time last year. We were maybe 21st or 22nd. I sat here and said at that time we would still finish in the top seven. We ended up finishing fifth.

"You might think I'm mad but I am still looking to chase down Walsall.

"I called the League One season a failure, I saw last season a failure. I would see it as a failure if we didn't get promoted. We want to try to get out of the division as quickly as we can."

7.48pm - What are your key lessons from this division?

GM: "There was a lot of things in the first half of last season that we can look at. We had a lot of injuries and I didn't really know the league to be honest. We were learning on the job. The amount of work I put in, watching manager's press conferences and things like that. A lot of the staff in the building knew the league and I leaned on them. It took me some time to learn from that and I feel I have educated myself.

"It's not where we want to be. I know the level above very well. It's been a lot of education, working with the staff and players and tying everything into one to make us better."

7.50pm - What effect does people booing have on the team and staff?

GM: "It's a very good question and it's a hard one to answer. Fans pay their money to come and they want us to perform. They have an opinion and that is why football is a great sport. From the human side, it's very tough at times. I've lived through it and I can lead the players through it when they get unnecessary treatment. No one goes out to put in a bad performance and we don't put out teams to lose.

"We had an incident a couple of weeks when Luke Molyneux wasn't in a good way. He had tears in my office when he felt too much criticism was coming his way. Social media can be a horrible place. We have to help the players and support them. In the last two games, Mols has won the games for us. He's probably been one of the most productive players from across the EFL and we are priviledged to have him."

7.55pm - Will there be any new incomings this month? Also, could we look at keeping any of the loanees permanently?

GM: "We're very happy with the three players we have brought in this month. We are very lucky to get Rob Street. Ethan Ennis is a really exciting young player and he was the best we have seen in training today. He is so sharp, he is quick, he can finish. Charlie Crew is an exceptional young talent and the players were wowed by him in his first training sessions before the Gillingham game.

"Gillingham was big for Charlie and he will grow from it, like Matty Craig did last year. We feel like we've got a very good squad.

"You never know what happens in a window. We're keeping our eyes wide open. You don't know what is going to happen. We have potential targets if anything happened to any of our players."

7.58pm - Club Doncaster Foundation CEO John Davis is introduced to the room

JD presents to the audience a summary of the impact the Foundation has on the community. He highlights this with the Christmas campaign, designed to help people, which involved the whole of Club Doncaster.

8.03pm - Jonathan Heath brings the evening to a close, thanking attendees and the top table.

[SydneyRover]

Thank you for posting this, thank you to all that attended and all the Q & A's.

[Spud]

Echo the above, appreciate you taking the time to put this across. A good read also.

[NickDRFC]

This was on the official site last night. The media team has got a lot of stick this season (some of it fair and justified) so it’s a big thumbs up and thanks from me for getting this out so quickly and to with such detail.

Overall it’s a good read - I like GM’s bullishness/confidence and the open communication is a big plus. Sounds like they’re just as pissed off about the Palace game as the rest of us, I’d be interested to know how much detail was given or asked for when the new broadcasting arrangement was agreed. A part of me feels that all clubs (or at least the majority) must have been complicit in selling football’s soul but maybe that’s unfair.

One shame/concern for me is the squad size. There was talk of being smarter with spend last year and the fact we have so many players (with some seemingly unsuitable for how we play) suggests that hasn’t happened, but who should learn lessons from that? GM? TB? GB? Do we have the right structure in place? If it had been managed better could we have spent on some of those non-football areas discussed?

Also sounds positive that TB is thinking about succession but it’s all quite vague. He’s still ploughing a lot of money in and we’re very dependent but I certainly trust the right planning is happening behind the scenes.

Overall a pretty positive picture and I think it’s important to recognise how much we should appreciate the openness and candour that these 3 show every year.

[graingrover]

A welcome summary enabling us all to share in what is a valuable annual meeting.More thought is now given to the questions hence more substance than triviality is being discussed.I would have hoped for a short summary pf the Club Doncaster Foundation from Mr Davis . Though very important to TB Club the Foundation  is the underwater part of an iceberg in my opinion
 

[One_Matty_Lucas]

Thank you PDX for the detailed summary, much appreciated.

[graingrover]

This has given me much more information about the Foundation work .
https://clubdoncasterfoundation.co.uk/

[DonnyBazR0ver]

The video of the event should be out by tomorrow.

[idler]

Well done and thank you PDX for such a comprehensive summary of last night’s event. Thanks also to those supporters that attended as this must encourage those at the top table. I also agree with graingerover that the questions this time were far better than at past events. You can never please everybody but I do think that this puts the club in a positive light compared to most other clubs.

[TonySoprano]

Well done and thank you PDX for such a comprehensive summary of last night’s event. Thanks also to those supporters that attended as this must encourage those at the top table. I also agree with graingerover that the questions this time were far better than at past events. You can never please everybody but I do think that this puts the club in a positive light compared to most other clubs.

Alost like he copied and pasted from the website 

[Barmby Rover]

The meeting sounds very constructive, with the management team being as open as possible about how the club is being developed. So much of a contrast with the Wendies similar meeting!

[vaya]

The meeting sounds very constructive, with the management team being as open as possible about how the club is being developed. So much of a contrast with the Wendies similar meeting!

Full marks to whoever it was who managed to ask a question and have a dig at Wednesdays at the same time.

[Pancho Regan]

Thanks PDX for putting this up on the Forum.

I am heartened by the open nature of the communications between the Club and the fans, and the willingness of TB, GB and GM to share information with us.
We should never take this for granted - just ask the Wednesday fans!

We continue to be in good hands and I'm very grateful for that.
If we all stay united in our aims then this can only help us to achieve them.

[Owl in peace]

Thanks PDX for putting this up on the Forum.

I am heartened by the open nature of the communications between the Club and the fans, and the willingness of TB, GB and GM to share information with us.
We should never take this for granted - just ask the Wednesday fans!

We continue to be in good hands and I'm very grateful for that.
If we all stay united in our aims then this can only help us to achieve them.

This was a brilliant fans forum, refreshing to read after reading ours from last week!

A club going in the right direction

[DonnyBazR0ver]

This was on the official site last night. The media team has got a lot of stick this season (some of it fair and justified) so it’s a big thumbs up and thanks from me for getting this out so quickly and to with such detail.

Overall it’s a good read - I like GM’s bullishness/confidence and the open communication is a big plus. Sounds like they’re just as pissed off about the Palace game as the rest of us, I’d be interested to know how much detail was given or asked for when the new broadcasting arrangement was agreed. A part of me feels that all clubs (or at least the majority) must have been complicit in selling football’s soul but maybe that’s unfair.

One shame/concern for me is the squad size. There was talk of being smarter with spend last year and the fact we have so many players (with some seemingly unsuitable for how we play) suggests that hasn’t happened, but who should learn lessons from that? GM? TB? GB? Do we have the right structure in place? If it had been managed better could we have spent on some of those non-football areas discussed?

Also sounds positive that TB is thinking about succession but it’s all quite vague. He’s still ploughing a lot of money in and we’re very dependent but I certainly trust the right planning is happening behind the scenes.

Overall a pretty positive picture and I think it’s important to recognise how much we should appreciate the openness and candour that these 3 show every year.

Yes, we've gone from one extreme to a other with the squad size and injuries, or the lack of, resulting in us being a bit top heavy.

We can debate whether we could have gone for more 'quality' over quantity but I ask myself whether McCann feels he's hampered or not and to me he seems happy with the strategy and the players he's acquired. I don't think we should worry about the finances as we have previously, as it seems TB is happy to speculate to accumulate in all areas including the new training facilities.

With the stadium sponsorship coming up for grabs in a couple of years, there should be an opportunity to give the stadium a good makeover and upgrade of vital equipment, such as the sound system, lighting etc.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Now out on video.

https://youtu.be/9Y0N17BaMTo?si=uAcPxppCeG4gBEhg

I think it's fair to say we can read more than just the transcript provides and having watched the vid, it really heartened me listening to TB. There aren't many like him anymore, which is a shame, as he embodies the value of the community club and how it should appeal to the wider population of the City.

When he casually remarked about something and said, "....when we're in the Championship." do you think he actually believes it?

[Branton Rover]

What about the kiosks ?

[Pancho Regan]

Regarding the "bloated" squad size, I would suggest that had we been top of the League, or firmly positioned in the top 3 and firing on all cylinders consistently, then Grant may not have felt the need to bring in 3 more recruits in January.

[In the box]

Regarding the "bloated" squad size, I would suggest that had we been top of the League, or firmly positioned in the top 3 and firing on all cylinders consistently, then Grant may not have felt the need to bring in 3 more recruits in January.

A bloated squad ? We only ever pick from 16-18 players each week when players are fit usually because we don’t have enough depth in the first place. We are stronger at the back this season but not upfront …where it counts . We just don’t spend on players but moan  about not spending enough on the P.A System .. you couldn’t make this up !!

[roversdude]

And he’s back

[graingrover]

This photo is a great advert for the  Doncaster  Foundation and credit to Olowu visiting the schools in our community in this way .

[BradwellRover]

Thanks all for posting the transcripts and links.

Much appreciated.

[Stocksbridge Owl]

I think it’s outstanding that your owners and manager do these events. I’d guess that it’s fairly rare in football circles.

At my club the relationship between owner, manager and supporters is fractious at best.

I’m sure that you all realise how fortunate you are.

[Peebles Rover]

This photo is a great advert for the  Doncaster  Foundation and credit to Olowu visiting the schools in our community in this way .

I love this!!

[Sprotyrover]

Great to see the players interacting with the community.

[rover-n-out]

A grateful thank you PDX Rover for posting that lengthy and informative forum content.

[BradwellRover]

I think it’s outstanding that your owners and manager do these events. I’d guess that it’s fairly rare in football circles.

At my club the relationship between owner, manager and supporters is fractious at best.

I’m sure that you all realise how fortunate you are.

I think most do. Unfortunately we had our own terrible owner in the past, so know how bad it can be.

[Lesonthewest]

That was a great watch, & it shows the togetherness of the club & everyone pulling in the right direction, well done everyone, we are very lucky.

[Nudga]

How can you not love Mr Bramall, such a nice bloke.

[JonWallsend]

Great stuff. Most worrying take home is that some people put their hands up in favour of VAR in the lower leagues. Who and why?