It is one year ago today that our new owners took over. there is an interesting article in the WDP about the first year they have been in charge for
Such have been the significance of some of the events that have taken place at Bristol Rovers over the last 12 months it is hard to know where to start when attempting to mark the first anniversary of the Al-Qadi family taking ownership Little was known about Wael Al-Qadi when he was ushered into a hastily-arranged press conference at the Memorial Stadium flanked by his brother Samer and a man we now know as Steve Hamer on February 19, 2016. The club, we were told, had become debt-free overnight and Al-Qadi went on to talk of a journey of 'evolution' rather than 'revolution'. For some, it sounded too good to be true. Some 12 months on, though, Al-Qadi, remains as popular as he was when he first arrived. "I have learned a lot over the last 12 months," said Al-Qadi. "There is a lot more involved in running a football club than I previously thought. It is more than just what happens with the first-team on a Saturday afternoon. "It has been an eventful year; the promotion; the game against Chelsea; and the transfer dealings. There is never a quiet day. There is a lot of work done by some great people that goes unnoticed to produce what we see on the pitch at the end of the week. "To become so passionately involved and attached to the club so quickly is something I didn't expect. I didn't think I would be as affected as I am when we lose games. "I get really down and my family tend to leave me alone for a day or two after we lose. I've have often had sleepless nights for two or three nights. It's lucky we haven't lost too many!" That Rovers don't lose too many is in large part due to the endeavours of first-team manager Darrell Clarke. Al-Qadi has fostered a productive working relationship with a terrace favourite who has been responsible for bringing the club back from the dead by securing back-to-back promotions. "Darrell, his staff and the players done an amazing job to get promotion," said Al-Qadi. "They have all done even better to still be in the mix for a play-off place in a really tough League One this season. "It was no surprise when Leeds United approached us to speak to him last season. We didn't want to stand in his way but, at the same time, we were desperate for him to stay. "Once he decided to sign a new contract we asked Darrell what he needed to help him do his job. We have reinforced the backroom team with a lot of specialist medical staff, scientists and analysts. "There has been a lot of work also done to expand the staff at the Academy in order to focus on improving our youth set-up as well. We're changing things slowly and surely and laying a lot of the groundwork now that will help this club enjoy a bright future." The first part of the jigsaw that is the brighter future was put in place last week with the purchase of a 29-acre site in Almondsbury that will house a new state-of-the-art training ground. It will be the "heart and soul" of the club, according to Al-Qadi, yet the all-important revenue-generating stadium Rovers are desperate for still remains elusive 12 months on from taking ownership. Rovers and UWE continue to negotiate on an agreement that suits both parties over the long-awaited 21,700-capacity venue, and Al-Qadi said: "I understand why fans are impatient. "They have been lacking a proper and modern stadium for many years. I can feel their frustrations, but we have to make sure that it will be a sustainable thing for the club. "The other side are working for their best interests and that is simply the process of business and negotiation. The talks continue to be ongoing and are moving in the right direction. We are very hopeful that we will eventually get the project going." Little else has been talked about since the plan was first mooted in 2011, yet, for 48 hours at the end of last month, the shock departure of Matty Taylor to Bristol City became potentially one of the biggest stories in the history of the club. Taylor became the first player in 30 years to leave Rovers and join City in a direct move to divide the football fraternity of Bristol in two for the days that followed. Rovers filed a complaint with the EFL accusing somebody of foul play that had allowed City to come by confidential contract information to secure Taylor's services at the minimum price. The complaint has since been dropped in the spirit of good relations between the city's two footballing neighbours and Al-Qadi said: "It was always a concern at the back of our minds that we would lose Matty. "You know you are never quite over the hill in the transfer window until it is physically impossible to do a deal. The offer came through and we had to get on with it. "We put up a fight and tried to keep him, but when a player has made a decision to go you have to accept that it is pointless to stand in his way. "It was better for all parties concerned to move on. We issued a joint statement with Bristol City on the matter, which was unique, and now we can all move on with our lives."
I thought it was the 19th Feb that they took over meaning its not a year yet! Unless they took over on 17th Feb but wasnt announced until the 19th??
But if it was 19th Feb then the 1 year anniversary will be 19th Feb the following year, the leap year thing doesnt matter does it?
Definately the 19th when the takeover was announced http://www.not606.com/threads/friday-all-will-be-revealed.323632/page-2 So why are they saying the 17th? It must be when they actually took over the club, I guess.
And yet some Gasheads out there still think our new owners have done nothing most of the them being on a certain forum
I remember his comments about being carried down Gloucester road to the pub and enjoying it because he was a FAN and not just the owner. Many directors of many clubs say they are fans but how many would admit to enjoying the same delight as the fans and with the fans as Wael did at the end of last season
I would say takeover on 17th Feb 2016 would make the 1 year anniversary fall on 17th Feb 2017. Or 19th Feb 2016 would make the 1 year anniversary fall on 19th Feb. Like your birthday falls on the same date each year or your wedding anniversary falling on the same date each year. Would you celebrate your birthday or wedding anniversary 2 days earlier each year? No. You use the same date each year. So there!
