please log in to view this image Despite all the rumours abound regarding the future of the Football Club I was still surprised to receive a call from Nick Higgs on Friday 19th February 2016. He gave me the ‘heads up’ about the details of the news conference he had called for 1.30pm on that day. To be fair this is not the first time this has happened as Nick has previously warned me in advance of managerial changes and the like. It is good to be prepared for the inevitable press interviews that come in a big rush in such circumstances. Nothing though could prepare me for the news that the Club had been sold overnight to the Jordanian Al-Qadi family. It was a shock to be told that all the previous Board, Nick, Barry Bradshaw, Chris Jelf and Edward Ware, had sold out. This left just the two Supporters Club Directors, Ken Masters and Brian Seymour Smith, to join the new Board. This has finally proved what a great asset the Supporters Club’s Share Scheme agreement has been. It provides the supporters with a continuing presence and hopefully a valuable input into a very exciting future for our beloved ‘Pirates’. We must not get carried away but I was impressed by new Chairman Steve Hamer’s comments that it will be ‘evolution and not revolution’. I would have felt uneasy if the press conference had promised the Premiership in five years or something akin. I have met both Steve and the new President Mr. Wael Al-Qadi, who have created a very good early impression which I always think matters. The proof will, of course, be in the pudding but I am optimistic that Rovers’ long-term future is in good hands. On Behalf of the supporters club I would like to place on record my thanks to Nick Higgs and all the previous Board members. My thanks also extend to all those previous Chairmen Geoff Dunford, Barry Bradshaw, the late Denis Dunford and Ron Craig who all did so much for Bristol Rovers. Finally, I would ask every supporter to give the new Board a warm welcome and give them the time necessary to move this great club forward gradually. I’m sure the future is bright. It looks very blue and white. Jim Chappell. http://bristolroverssc.co.uk/2016/02/23/brsc-chair-talks/
