Higgs Speaks!
- Thread starter Captain Jack Sparrow
- Start date
A break down of what was said:
* Very poor start to the season, always knew it was going to be tough. 1st 2 games when the fixtures were released was going to be tough games and they didnt surprise me.
* However Saturday (at Altrincham) was a rude awakening and as a team and club we need to wise up and realise its going to be like this every week.
* Teams in this league will see us as a big fish and we need to understand we are in this league for a reason and respond accordingly.
* It was evident on Saturday that they were more up for it than we were and we need to wise up very quickly.
* Absolutely still behind DC.
* We have identified a further 3 strikers already this week that we will be going for trying to sign at least 2 of them.
* Still 1 or 2 phone calls to go but hoping to get at least 1 in before this Saturday.
* We as the board are fully supportive of DC and the team and we will fully get behind DC and we're going to give him the resources that he needs to make sure we are able to compete.
* In any business the board has to take responibility when things are not going well but we have to stand up and be counted.
* I can assure anyone that we are giving 100% in making sure we will make this club a success.
* I like to hope everyone gets behind DC and the team on Saturday and give them as much help and support as we can to get our 1st 3 points of the season.
* We been turned down by several players during the summer but also we been very close to signing players but then fallen by the way side and a few who agreed terms but then we were not happy with their injury record or who failed medicals.
* But with the additions that DC has made with a few more signings, we will have a team capable of challenging where we want to be.
* DC has a good budget but its not infinate meaning he cant just go sign anybody.
* We just need to get a couple wins under our belt and move up the table and things will be ok in my opinion.
* Dont want negativity at the club but wants positivity at the club so im hoping fans see beyond the 1st 3 games and come out and support the team.
* Positivity is the best thing for the players not getting at them. Need to try and relax the players so they can be ready for Saturday.
* When things go well things go well, success breeds success. We been on a losing streak for a while and need to get in front in games to give us confidence and build from there.
* Unfortunately we have gone behind 1st and then heads have dropped. Everyone can see and its clear to see.
* If we do go behind we must drop our head but show positivity and not just give up the ghost.
* (Regarding Geoff Dunford) We dont have to replace, nothing will happen to his shares, he remains as a share holder. But we do have a vacancy.
* We been actively looking for a new investor throughout the summer anyway. We want to improve the structure and skill set on the board.
* We have been talking to several people but nothing has worked out at this time.
* Hopefully in the next few weeks or months we will have someone who can help take us forward.
* I receive many applications to join the board and they are vetted of course. I do have an obligation to BRFC to make sure they are in it for the right reasons.
* Also we have had many people willing to invest but the same process applies. We have to make sure the investment is for the right reasons.
* Its very difficult. If we let a big investor in for the wrong reasons it could backfire on us big time.
* I got no reason but to feel optimistic. I know we are in a bad position at the moment and we have a lot of things to think about moving a head.
* We got the UWE stadium but thats moving very slow and it is frustrating but when we get good news with that, that will give the club a feel good factor.
* Very poor start to the season, always knew it was going to be tough. 1st 2 games when the fixtures were released was going to be tough games and they didnt surprise me.
* However Saturday (at Altrincham) was a rude awakening and as a team and club we need to wise up and realise its going to be like this every week.
* Teams in this league will see us as a big fish and we need to understand we are in this league for a reason and respond accordingly.
* It was evident on Saturday that they were more up for it than we were and we need to wise up very quickly.
* Absolutely still behind DC.
* We have identified a further 3 strikers already this week that we will be going for trying to sign at least 2 of them.
* Still 1 or 2 phone calls to go but hoping to get at least 1 in before this Saturday.
* We as the board are fully supportive of DC and the team and we will fully get behind DC and we're going to give him the resources that he needs to make sure we are able to compete.
* In any business the board has to take responibility when things are not going well but we have to stand up and be counted.
* I can assure anyone that we are giving 100% in making sure we will make this club a success.
* I like to hope everyone gets behind DC and the team on Saturday and give them as much help and support as we can to get our 1st 3 points of the season.
* We been turned down by several players during the summer but also we been very close to signing players but then fallen by the way side and a few who agreed terms but then we were not happy with their injury record or who failed medicals.
* But with the additions that DC has made with a few more signings, we will have a team capable of challenging where we want to be.
* DC has a good budget but its not infinate meaning he cant just go sign anybody.
* We just need to get a couple wins under our belt and move up the table and things will be ok in my opinion.
* Dont want negativity at the club but wants positivity at the club so im hoping fans see beyond the 1st 3 games and come out and support the team.
* Positivity is the best thing for the players not getting at them. Need to try and relax the players so they can be ready for Saturday.
* When things go well things go well, success breeds success. We been on a losing streak for a while and need to get in front in games to give us confidence and build from there.
* Unfortunately we have gone behind 1st and then heads have dropped. Everyone can see and its clear to see.
* If we do go behind we must drop our head but show positivity and not just give up the ghost.
* (Regarding Geoff Dunford) We dont have to replace, nothing will happen to his shares, he remains as a share holder. But we do have a vacancy.
* We been actively looking for a new investor throughout the summer anyway. We want to improve the structure and skill set on the board.
* We have been talking to several people but nothing has worked out at this time.
* Hopefully in the next few weeks or months we will have someone who can help take us forward.
* I receive many applications to join the board and they are vetted of course. I do have an obligation to BRFC to make sure they are in it for the right reasons.
* Also we have had many people willing to invest but the same process applies. We have to make sure the investment is for the right reasons.
* Its very difficult. If we let a big investor in for the wrong reasons it could backfire on us big time.
* I got no reason but to feel optimistic. I know we are in a bad position at the moment and we have a lot of things to think about moving a head.
* We got the UWE stadium but thats moving very slow and it is frustrating but when we get good news with that, that will give the club a feel good factor.
Taken from BBC...
Higgs has been on the Bristol Rovers board since 2006 and became chairman two years later, when they were in League One.
Higgs stats as chairman.
2008-09:
Finished 11th in League One under manager Paul Trollope.
2009-10:
Finished 11th in League One for the second time under Trollope.
2010-11:
Trollope sacked in December. Darren Patterson takes caretaker charge before Dave Penney is appointed in January. Penney sacked in March and midfielder Stuart Campbell takes over temporarily. Relegated from League One.
2011-12:
Paul Buckle appointed manager but sacked in January. Assistant Shaun North takes over before Mark McGhee arrives on permanent deal. Finished 13th in League Two.
2012-13:
McGhee sacked in December and replaced by John Ward. Finished 14th in League Two.
2013-14:
John Ward moved to director of football. Darrell Clarke takes over as manager but Rovers finish 23rd and are relegated. Ward is sacked.
During his tenure, he has seen nine different managers take charge of the first-team and they were relegated to the Conference for the first time in their history in May, after their final-day defeat by Mansfield. Higgs has received criticism from some supporters for Rovers decline and the club have come under further scrutiny after failing to win in their opening three Conference games. And, when asked if he had considered quitting the club, Higgs responded:
"I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said I hadn't considered it. There's days where I think 'what more can I do?' But we're here to try and take Bristol Rovers forward. We've hit a low patch at this moment in time and now we've got to try and pick ourselves up. We've now got to get behind Darrell Clarke and the team to give him the backing he needs to try and get the first three points on the board. Hopefully then we can try to move forward."
He looks and now talks like a broken man. Do any of you feel sorry for him?
Higgs has been on the Bristol Rovers board since 2006 and became chairman two years later, when they were in League One.
Higgs stats as chairman.
2008-09:
Finished 11th in League One under manager Paul Trollope.
2009-10:
Finished 11th in League One for the second time under Trollope.
2010-11:
Trollope sacked in December. Darren Patterson takes caretaker charge before Dave Penney is appointed in January. Penney sacked in March and midfielder Stuart Campbell takes over temporarily. Relegated from League One.
2011-12:
Paul Buckle appointed manager but sacked in January. Assistant Shaun North takes over before Mark McGhee arrives on permanent deal. Finished 13th in League Two.
2012-13:
McGhee sacked in December and replaced by John Ward. Finished 14th in League Two.
2013-14:
John Ward moved to director of football. Darrell Clarke takes over as manager but Rovers finish 23rd and are relegated. Ward is sacked.
During his tenure, he has seen nine different managers take charge of the first-team and they were relegated to the Conference for the first time in their history in May, after their final-day defeat by Mansfield. Higgs has received criticism from some supporters for Rovers decline and the club have come under further scrutiny after failing to win in their opening three Conference games. And, when asked if he had considered quitting the club, Higgs responded:
"I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said I hadn't considered it. There's days where I think 'what more can I do?' But we're here to try and take Bristol Rovers forward. We've hit a low patch at this moment in time and now we've got to try and pick ourselves up. We've now got to get behind Darrell Clarke and the team to give him the backing he needs to try and get the first three points on the board. Hopefully then we can try to move forward."
He looks and now talks like a broken man. Do any of you feel sorry for him?
Feel sorry for him, not aF6cking chance. I feel sorry for the bloody supporters who have endured 6 years of following Rovers during his time as Chairman. The record speaks for itself. Woeful.
As they say success breeds success and I can now see why we are now the biggest ex League Club going. And why we constantly have under achieved since 2006 !
Nine managers who the F$ck carried out the interviews, maybe NH thought he was recruiting a few Brickies for his ex Company not a Bloody Football Club Manager. Truth be told looking at part timers including Brickies playing for other Semi Pro Clubs they put our (still) overpaid lot to shame. If any of them (current squad) had serious ambitions to get Rovers back in the FL then they should be happy to be paid on results. Is it their ability that they doubt or that of their playing colleagues ? Or that of the Manager.
Nick, whilst you say you are optimistic sadly I doubt that many Fans share that sentiment with lack of positive events happening at The Mem. It needs to be good news time and I don't mean 3 points come Saturday.
As they say success breeds success and I can now see why we are now the biggest ex League Club going. And why we constantly have under achieved since 2006 !
Nine managers who the F$ck carried out the interviews, maybe NH thought he was recruiting a few Brickies for his ex Company not a Bloody Football Club Manager. Truth be told looking at part timers including Brickies playing for other Semi Pro Clubs they put our (still) overpaid lot to shame. If any of them (current squad) had serious ambitions to get Rovers back in the FL then they should be happy to be paid on results. Is it their ability that they doubt or that of their playing colleagues ? Or that of the Manager.
Nick, whilst you say you are optimistic sadly I doubt that many Fans share that sentiment with lack of positive events happening at The Mem. It needs to be good news time and I don't mean 3 points come Saturday.
Well it's nice to hear him say today about possible investment weather anything will happen is another thing I wonder who this supposed investor was who decided on buying another club instead of ours I wonder which club it was also?
depends on what you base it on
personally i dont want to be labelled as the biggest. i would rather us stay under the radar and not be the team who people raise their games against and treat us as their cup final.
depends on what you base it on
personally i dont want to be labelled as the biggest. i would rather us stay under the radar and not be the team who people raise their games against and treat us as their cup final.
That's a fair point
. But if you are interested the basis of my assumption is that they were at Championship level more recently than you and that they have similar crowds, but it would be a close run thing
That's a fair point
you could say how long they been in the conference for (established non league side) and that we never been in the conference may decide.
fanbase could be used. we have an higher average crowd but thats not really fair though on them. in the past they may have had better figures but now non league for the years they have been, their figures would have reduced a lot. however we took 40k to wembley.
also bristol is bigger than grimsby so could be called bigger in that respects.
2013/14 Season
Ave home crowds
Rovers 6308
Grimsby 3568
Bristol has a much larger population at around 437492 v 87574 (Grimsby) so percentage wise Grimsby actually enjoy a better ave home gate based on percentage of local population. That said its people through the gate that count and Rovers are without doubt a better supported Club. Thats money in the Bank.
Thats my view for what its worth.
Ave home crowds
Rovers 6308
Grimsby 3568
Bristol has a much larger population at around 437492 v 87574 (Grimsby) so percentage wise Grimsby actually enjoy a better ave home gate based on percentage of local population. That said its people through the gate that count and Rovers are without doubt a better supported Club. Thats money in the Bank.
Thats my view for what its worth.
You shouldn't really compare last season, for a fairer comparison you will need to look up Grimsby ave attendance for the year they got relegated. I think it will be a lot closer then, and when Grimsby went to Wembley there were over 60000 there, not saying they were all Grimsby fans though . I don't think never being in the Conference is a fair deciding factor either, there are currently clubs in the football league who have also never been in the Conference and I would say even after a couple of seasons out of the league Rovers would still be bigger than them. I'm not sure why I'm championing Grimsby though 
. I don't think never being in the Conference is a fair deciding factor either, there are currently clubs in the football league who have also never been in the Conference and I would say even after a couple of seasons out of the league Rovers would still be bigger than them. I'm not sure why I'm championing Grimsby though
You shouldn't really compare last season, for a fairer comparison you will need to look up Grimsby ave attendance for the year they got relegated. I think it will be a lot closer then, and when Grimsby went to Wembley there were over 60000 there, not saying they were all Grimsby fans though
that was kind of my point in my last comment
didnt realise though grimsby took 60000 to wembley. fair shout to them for doing that!
They are also part of the record attendance at Old Trafford, which was a FA Cup semi-final against Wolves. I'm really not a Grimsby supporter 
OK fair shout lets review this one at the end of this Season based on home League games. My monies on Rovers to have bigger attendances and not by a few 100. I may be proved wrong and if so good on Grimsby and their supporters.