DRFC Ryan urging fans to back the club

Doncaster Rovers chairman John Ryan is looking for the fans to back him and his fellow directors by supporting the club next season.

After poor crowds in the early part of last season at the Keepmoat, Ryan ran a number of promotions to try to get fans through the turnstiles, including given tickets away free for the game with Crystal Palace in April.

Ryan realised that it wasn`t popular with some fans, speaking on the official website, Ryan said, 'Our pricing structure last season upset some of our season-ticket holders, who questioned how loyalty is rewarded. As a club we continue to stay loyal to our fans by giving the manager as much resources as possible to compete in the Championship, a division that grows in strength year on year.'
'Expressing our loyalty in this way means that the club operates at a loss in excess of £1.5million per year but gives our fans the opportunity to say that your team is one of the best in Yorkshire.
'Loyalty, by definition, means staying in support of someone in spite of their actions.

With Rovers now trying to build for the 2011/12 season, their fourth in the Championship despite their tight resources compared to most in the Championship, Ryan is asking the fans to back him, the same way in which he has backed the club since saving it from extinction in 1998. 'Please give me your support, I've put my heart and soul into Doncaster Rovers for 13 years now and I'm desperate for this club to continue moving in an upward direction. Without your support this is simply not possible,' he continued.

Rovers averaged 10,258 at the Keepmoat last season despite all the promotions, over 700 down on the previous season.

This despite Ryan and his board of directors personally financing the cub record signing of Billy Sharp last summer.

A number of games were particularly disappointing last season for fans attendance.

The Leeds and Sheffield United were both chosen for live TV coverage and they were particularly poorly attended for the size of the game.

Just over 13,000 came through the gates for the Leeds game whilst a sub 9,000 gate for the Sheffield United gate, was over 4,000 fans down on the previous season.

Other games that were well down on the previous season were local games with Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Scunthorpe United, Barnsley and Middlesbrough.

In what is sure to be a very tough Championship next season, with Rovers already being written off by the bookmakers the club is needing your support next season more than ever.





Join Vital Doncaster Rovers!

With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!

You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.

Vital is also 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles and the forum but you can also suggest an article or a poll so you can air your views.

So why not join Vital today?

It's easy to register here and enjoy getting involved

Message Board

To visit the message board, click here.

Get involved

This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital Doncaster .







Vital Doncaster on:

Vital Doncaster on:

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.