Since publication of last week’s Doncaster Free Press, there has been much speculation as to the impact of the inferences and statements that have been made, upon the future of the Dons.

First and foremost the Dons will continue to be owned, lead and managed by the team who have moved us forward over the past thirty months of the current ownership. Furthermore, the business ethos that we have adopted over this period will be followed rigorously ensuring both the financial stability and continuity of the club into the future.

As part of our future plans the Dons have already signed a lease extension in early May 2012 with the Borough Council to remain at the Keepmoat until 31 December 2015. When Doncaster Rovers achieve their aspiration of taking over the head lease of the Keepmoat, our sub lease will have to be novated and its existing terms and conditions protected in their entirety. This should consolidate our very good working relationship with the Rovers, who have our full support for their venture as we enjoy theirs.

Notwithstanding our independence they may well be situations where we could explore with other Keepmoat occupiers the joint use of common services providers, supplier purchasing, ticket sales and general administrative oncosts so long as any consequential integration would be to the mutual operational and financial benefit of all.

One of the more emotive matters arising from the article is the mention of the Dons away strip being modelled on that of the Rovers home strip. It is in some degree difficult to understand the adverse reaction to this possibility, particularly when in the last three seasons we have had white and black, red and black and grey and pink away strips. The final decision over the 2013 season adopted away strip design lies with the RFL and their formal approval. For clarity, the Dons blue and gold will definitely not be abandoned nor has this subject ever been on any agenda.

Despite a further double digit percentage increase in the Dons home attendances this year we, like the other sports clubs in the Borough, do not benefit from the level of support commensurate with the quality of the performances and offering. Thus, it is certainly worthwhile to work with other Keepmoat users to optimise involvement and interest in sport through the 'Doncaster' brand, whilst each sports organisation retains its own brand independence, identity and integrity.

In summary, the Dons are in good heart both on and off the field, however if working with others of like mind and aspirations could benefit the Dons in future then it would be both unacceptable and inadvisable not to explore opportunities that open up before us as we push for promotion and thereafter. COYD.

For the author, this.......
Might I say, that we accept that our away strip will be different to our home strip and that it will probably be different colours.
What we don't (or at least I don't) accept is that it will look like we are Doncaster Rovers in red and white hoops.
That is unacceptable and has been agreed with no reference to the fans or their wishes.

And to say that the final decision is that of the RFL as though somehow they are complicit is somewhat misleading. Their input is merely to rubber stamp what has already been decided, or to object which is unlikely.

PS I have no objection to red and white as long as we don't look like Doncaster Rovers.

no point !!!!!

Can you explain why anyone would buy one?

You altered your post at the last minute there.
Very wise, since it's not just me who thinks this way.

Anyway just for the record, I don't care anymore!
Let them do what they want!

End of subject!

I think everyone here would agree that sharing resources and working with the Rovers for the benefit of both clubs is a good thing, especially considering our club would probably benefit the most from such things. However in the same way that you are finding it difficult to understand the opposition to us wearing the Rovers colours, I can't understand why we'd want to. In my opinion it will just cheapen the club and make us look like some inferior off shoot.

Whilst I have been a staunch advocate of the current regime I have to admit on this one I disagree.

I can fully understand sharing back room staff, and the cost benefits of this.

However on the issue of the away kit, I find myself on the rare occasion of agreeing with Stand-offish. What I have issue with is not the colours, but what agreeing to wearing this kit symbolises. Why do we need to confirm to this same Red and White identity and Rovers brand. The statement says we are an independent club, but surely if we are independent we can play in whatever colours we want, not that imposed by our landlords.

I also think the statement doesn't answer the question of what is "Sporting Doncaster", and if this is the same as or is different from the "Doncaster Rovers brand".

It took me a long time to get back in rugby league after a disastrous period in the clubs history which started with changing the clubs name and changing the kit colours to match those of the Rovers.

Please Carl, John and the Advisory Board DO NOT go down that route again.

I think it makes financial common sense for the clubs to join together in regards to costs/suppliers etc, and yes on small gates the club have to explore other avenues to be able to break even and continue to grow.The statement says it is a possibility that the club may adopt the red and white away ,as much as Dons fans dislike the idea ,and as I said before I see no real need for that, it seems the board are in favour,and only they know the full implications of what the coming together , for want of a better phrase,will mean for the Dons, and what it would mean to not enter a potential partnership. It's been stated that the clubs identity will not be compromised and the blue and gold is here to stay. I think everyone will agree that the board have the best interests of the club at heart.Let them run the club and wait and see what they have/are coming up with.

Good that the fans have now been given this Statement from the Club,though i find it rather strange and sad that the news ([uEspecially the parts involving the Dons[/u) should be broken to the fans of Doncaster Rovers and the Freepress before any of the (Dons Fans) knew about it.

The club have progressed both on and off the field this season and i for one am very grateful for that,but on this occasion i believe they got it wrong.

Has a supporter of both the Rovers and The Dons (may be in the minority on here) I like the look of some of this sharing measures and if the Dons can save a bob or two all the better IMO. The away strip will be emotive if adopted, but this is said on a purely personel basis, I don't think it's a teddy out the pram job. We have a club (Dons) that is well run, is playing its best football for years and what is more important grabbing the sporting glory for the name of the Town for the first time in a long time. Great bunch of players, coaches, backroom staff the whole kit and kaboodle. If the away strip was sky blue pink with yellow dots on I could'nt give a monkeys. We have team to follow and admire thats what is more important in this minds eye.

I can understand the sharing of resources, suppliers etc as long as we remain totally independant, however i do agree with SO that wearing a look alike Rovers strip will make us look like some cheap off shoot of the Rovers. I think next season the away shirt should be a 'Help for Heroes' themed shirt in honour of Ben Parkinson and his brave efforts.

I didn't actually use those words, it was The Prodigal Don.

It's all very 'closing the door after the horse as bolted', is this matter.
So it is done.
No amount of chatter on here will change that.

But just to reiterate for the final time.
First, Doncaster Rovers get custody of the Keepmoat for 99 years at £100,000 per annum. I do hope that is index linked, because years down the line £100,000 will be the average wage and years after that peanuts!
Result = the Rovers are in charge of the stadium.
Result = the Rovers will want to influence (and possibly control) ALL aspects of what happens in that stadium that they sensibly can, short of actually running the 'tenant teams'.

Second, someone had a notion to rationalise and have economies which will benefit all clubs by sharing administration etc etc.
Nothing whatsoever wrong with that. It makes perfect sense.

Third, someone had a vision that because we have a these things in common we should also have a brand. Again nothing wrong with that apart from what would this brand be?
Would it be 'Doncaster'? No, not at all! It will be 'Doncaster Rovers'. It says so in the Free Press.
All clubs playing in the stadium will come under the brand 'Doncaster Rovers'. Is it mandatory this brand?

Fourth, We agree to use Doncaster Rovers style shirts as our away strip.

Why is this? It's not been explained yet. Are we trying to be helpful or is it part of this 'Doncaster Rovers' brand thing?
There are benefits, there must be or why agree to this?
I would like to know just what they are.
Will Doncaster Rovers market the Dons? If so, in a better way than at present and provide them with better opportunities?
That would be a good thing in theory.

We would be part of an alliance then though wouldn't we?
Not just a tenant.

And that's how it looks now. That we are not just a tenant and that we are entering into an alliance with the Rovers with them as the major shareholder.

Harlequins/Broncos, Newcastle United/Falcons, Wigan/Wigan Warriors etc spring to mind.

So to recap ......the 'Doncaster Rovers Brand' and us playing in the Doncaster Rovers away strip look like two layers of the thin end of the wedge.

It seems clear who the new bosses are.

One other thing .... why has there been such a lack of comment on here about what has happened?
I can only assume most people are happy with proceedings, or not bothered!
Amen.

I apologise for attributing someone elses remarks to you. I do however agree with everything you have said. I really hope this is NOT the thin end of the wedge and that we do NOT become a small part of the 'Doncaster Rovers Brand'. I have always given the current regime running the club my full support as i believe they have done an excellent job with very limited resources, and i applaud them for that. However the day the word Rovers appears on our shirts or we become part of that organisation will be the last day as a Dons fan for me.

I suggest that the football teams drop the word Rovers then we can all be Doncaster FC or Doncaster RLFC ... sorted

More chance of sleeping with the Pope, as they say.

What happens if the Rovers slide down the leagues again? If my memory serves me right i'm sure they only narrowly avoided the drop into the Unibond league at one point. I've nothing against the Rovers but i just don't want us to be swallowed up by them only to be discarded if times get tough. I can see it now with Rovers fans moaning about it's the Dons fault this that and the other.

Waited til I have all sides of the story on this one, although I probably still don't.

Shared resources: excellent idea, why spend money we don't have on resources we can't afford. No brainer for me.

Away Kit: Our away kit has varied massively throughout recent history, if it was done quietly I may not have battered an eye-lid or even noticed. It's what it represents which I am still unclear about and that is my main worry. After all, if its like this year we'd struggle to actually get the kit anyway...unless we are teaming up with the Rover kit providers?

The Brand: This is still the big question mark, I'm not entirely sure what this means.

In summary I am confused and uncertain as to the extent of all this, however, the current regime have earned my trust in recent years and I owe them the privilege of trusting them on this too

Why do (Same Olde)some think they run the club and mustr have a say in every little aspect, If you are really that important buy into a position and put your money into the club..........................................................I buy a season ticket...............................I buy a pie............................................I buy a shirt...................................I buy a key ring...............................So do the supporters of every other club, let the management manage and let them turn the club round so you have a club to go and watch as well so you can..........................................................I buy a season ticket...............................I buy a pie............................................I buy a shirt...................................I buy a key ring.

Like whats been said who gives a sh@ as long as the teams bringing in the points.

do it mean that the rovers will purchase the said away kit ? saving us some dosh

I concur with most of what has been said especially by Jemmo.
[iShared resources: excellent idea, why spend money we don't have on resources we can't afford. No brainer for me either.[/i

Away Kit: Red and white away kit doesn't bother me too much but it is the muted link to Doncaster Rovers. I have nothing against Rovers, club or fans and agree we might benefit from a Doncaster Sporting Corporate Brand - but not a Doncaster Rovers Corporate Brand. Will the Rovers new away kit be Blue and Gold?

I believe the current management team (all the back room) have done our club proud and get all too little praise, but I have serious reservations when the Commercial Manager for the Rovers/Keepmoat appears to be linking the Dons to that element.

I am prepared to trust Carl on this one, afterall we can always vote with our feet if it turns out differently.

I am surprised that the word trust as been raised, as though it's an issue.
Who said this was an issue?
It's not about the Dons. it's about what the Rovers want.
That's the real issue.

And as for wanting to interfere in the running of the Dons, that is laughable.
Who wants to do that apart from the Rovers maybe.

So let me get this straight. we are not to comment on things that affect the club? For fear of interfering. There is not a lot of point in this forum then. The sooner it's shut down the better.

And for our learned (Olde

) friend in the fens, we are putting money into the club. Have you forgotten the Paul Cooke fund so soon?
Not forgetting, buying tickets, programmes, half time draw tickets.
How much have you spent at the Keepmoat this season on Dons games by the way?

Well said s-o

The Free Press is stirring again today. I am really annoyed by this bias towards the Rovers now.

This is what it says ...



The club won't have hit back at critics, in my view, that's reporter-speak.

A couple of things ......
in last week's Free Press it didn't say a 'single brand', it said a 'single Doncaster Rovers brand'. There is a hell of a difference.

Also, I don't know anyone on here who has criticised closer links with the Rovers and the amalgamation of resources and staff to achieve efficiencies and cost reductions. Do you?
So that one can be taken out of the equation straight away.


It's not about criticising the management team or questioning their ability to move the club forward and put its best interests first.

It is none of those things.

All anyone wanted was the answer to two simple questions, which incidentally were not answered in the club statement.
And so perhaps instead of turning this into something it is not,
it is not an attack on the club, someone could just provide the answers.

The two questions are ......

1. Why are we playing away matches in the Rovers strip next season and who decided this?

2. What is the 'single Rovers brand' and why is it needed?

That's it ..........specific answers please.
'Forging links with the Rovers' would not be a specific answer in my view.

The thing that gets me is, why do clubs make replica shirts? is it not to sell to the fans to make more money for the club, if it is well know that the fans are dead against a kit idea before it goes into production, then why would you risk it not selling and in the end costing the club money.