The biggest rat of all has deserted the stinking ship...Dunford has resigned.... Geoff Dunford in shock resignation from Bristol Rovers board of directors Long-serving Bristol Rovers director Geoff Dunford today stunned the club by resigning from the board. Former chairman Dunford's decision to stand down ends a 30-year association with the club his father, Denis, saved by moving from Eastville to Twerton Park in the 1980s. This latest move comes just a few months after Dunford denied rumours he was thinking of resigning following the Pirates' relegation out of the Football league. He insisted in May that he was prepared to stay on and help Rovers challenge for promotion in the Vanarama Conference. But events have moved on since then and Dunford, who served as chairman between 2004 and 2007, made his decision to stand down following Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Altrincham, arguably one of the lowest points in the club's history. Dunford issued the following statement, which appeared on Bristol Rovers' official website. It read: "It is with great sadness that on Sunday 17th August I resigned as a director of Bristol Rovers for personal reasons. "My family have been pressuring me to step down for a while. I did resign in February of this year, when the team was moving up the League 2 table, but I was persuaded to stay on by the Chairman and Toni Watola. "Relegation was a great disappointment to me after nearly 30 years of service to Bristol Rovers, and I am still not over the pain of it. "Nick Higgs and the board have my support in turning the club around. I believe they will provide a new stadium in South Gloucestershire, and return us to League 2, but they need the continued support of everyone to do this. I am sure they will succeed. "The club is back in non league as it was in the early 1900's and that is totally unacceptable. The team needs solid and positive support and time to change to winning ways. It is so easy to get on their backs, but please give the players every encouragement. No-one can do a decent job without valued support. "My participation over the last two years has dwindled to mostly giving financial support and I hope the board can find someone young and energetic to replace me. In Chris Jelf and Edward Ware the club have two people who can lead us to better things. They are prepared to work hard with Nick to bring about a change in our fortunes. It will not happen overnight, but please show patience. "On behalf of my family, I thank my fellow directors, staff and supporters for their friendship and help over the years. "To all Gasheads, please back your team in their hour of need. Positivity is so important. "Thank you "Geoff Dunford." Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Geoff-...tory-22761443-detail/story.html#ixzz3Ak2ECNHj
Geoff Dunford @GeoffDunford · 32m We all need to support the team and the board with positivity. We can turn the club around with promotion and a new stadium. Stick together! daft old **** has lost the plot!
