I keep reading the word 'evolution' in regard to our new owners plans for the club. Having seen us lose to a well organised and well drilled Shrewsbury team today - and despite our best efforts and endeavour, in my opinion, Shrewsbury deserved their win. They were big, physical and very streetwise and looked well capable of dealing with us if the game had gone on till midnight! This isn't a criticism of Rovers, the players or DC - merely an observation. We can't be as good as every team we play. Afterwards I got to thinking, I reckon my first Rovers game was 1971/72, some 46/47 years ago. At the time, Rovers were in the 3rd division (the same as now, and City were one division above us in division 2, the same as now).In the last 47 years, both clubs have had short spells up and down, but have spent the majority of their time in these same leagues. Thinking back to those days, some clubs we used to regularly play against have gone on to bigger and better things and have enjoyed spells in The Premiership ( Aston Villa, Reading, Southampton, off the top of my head) and there will be more. Meanwhile, 47 years on, we are in the exact same position that we were then. We haven't evolved in the 47 years I've been following Rovers for some reason, and I just wonder what chance there is of us still being in the same position in another 47 years. I really hope I'm wrong but what is it going to take for us to significantly move forward?
If we are lucky to go up, we wont be able to survive in the next level. Remember our club record fee spent (£370k) is still Tillson back in 1992, 26 years ago! To sign just an average championship player will set you back over £3million these day. A decent player will cost over £8million. Can you see us spending that money? Me neither. Although Burton managed it last season surviving on free signings but they look doomed this season. Until we get a new stadium, (build it and they will come), we will at best a L1 club. Get a new stadium, then we have a proper revenue generated with increased attendances and merchandise sales. Also using the stadium for other things will create extra revenue. More revenue = more money for wage budget = better standard players joining us = survival at a higher level. What gives me hope is Cardiff, Swansea, Bournemouth and Brighton. What do they all have in common? They all got a new stadium or redeveloped their stadium and then attendances went up, they signed better players and then gained promotion. Our owners took over with the phrase evolution not revolution. They said they wont be throwing money around and will rely on investments, wanting us to be self sufficient. But this was all said while we had planning permission for a new stadium. Where that fell through, where does that leave us? Answers on a postcard because I doubt the owners know themselves because they aint willing to throw cash at us which it is needed. In short, to answer your question, we wont progress until we get a new stadium. We may get lucky and go up but we wont last long and will drop back down, which will cause more damage. I think we will be better off staying in L1 and pushing each season for top 10 until a new stadium comes than go up to the championship and struggle and get humiliated with a weak squad in a stadium not fit for purpose with no room to increase capacity. Until our owners decide to throw money at getting a new stadium or new owners come in with money, we will go through another 47 years im afraid of being static.
As I am nearer 71 than seventy I don't think I will be worried what Rovers are doing in the year 2065
To be honest I can't even see the Mem getting redeveloped where is the money going to come from anyway?
I guess from the same place which was paying for the UWE stadium? Investments from elsewhere. The owners said they had the finances in place for UWE so can we not use the same investments? I presume so, if the investors are still interested of course. So what is the hold up if investors are still interested? Are we still at the design stage? I have no idea what stage we are with the redevelopment.
We have moved on we now own our own ground when I started watching the Rovers in the late 50s we played at Eastville, then we moved to Bath before returning to the Memorial Stadium, progress might be slow but for the first time in a long while we have a manager in DC who actually cares and players who play for the club and the fans and that hasn't happened for a considerable period of time
Maybe, but let's not kid ourselves, the Memorial 'Stadium' is a proper dump and needs updating urgently, It is holding the club back both in possible revenue incomes and also player attraction. I 've seen better grounds two leagues below ours which quite frankly I find embarrassing and if the club truly want to move things forward then they need to put the ground 'redevelopment' at the top of their hit list.
DC is in the bookies list to be the next Barnsley manager. I doubt he will go but how long will we keep him if the clubs ambition doesn't meet his. DC was excited about the new stadium and training ground. None are happening right now and no news when or if t will happen. DC wont stick around if he keeps getting messed around.
I am in total agreement CJS and I am not sure who we could get who would bring the same level of commitment to the club players and it's fans
I'm not one of those Bristol City fans who is automatically anti-Rovers. In fact, my stance down the years has led to some City fanatics saying I'm not a true City fan at all because I'm happy for Rovers to do well (so long as it doesn't adversely impact City) as they too represent the city of Bristol. However, I cringe with embarrassment in front of the television when Channel 5 shows highlights of Rovers home matches. That a club representing a major city, and the one in which I live, should be seen playing at such a ramshackle, inadequate ground with a ploughed field for a pitch should make all those associated with the Gas hang their head in shame. It's about par for the National League - just! Picked off of todays Bristol post site.. kind of hard not to disagree with that really
Reading this, I was very confused as I thought you were a gashead but what you were saying was you confirming you were a city fan! Then I seen the last line that you took it from elsewhere so it wasnt your own comment. Phew!!!!
Nope, quoted from a City fan writing on one of the Bristol Post's blogs yesterday, our fixture was the only game off last night outside of the conference { National League }
