No mention of the East Stand there.

i think i heard it on humberside but from a rovers source

This seems unfair to one of the most loyal and supporting fans in the league. I hope all goes well for you lot and the atmosphere at Craven Park stays the same.

Maybe because you were £2.4m in debt in 2007 and have since posted another hefty loss (reportedly)?



So far the scheme is likely to have raised cash of (typical split):

800 @ full price (£60) = 48,000
250 @ concession (£30) = £7,500
250 @ £0 (childrens) = £0
Total £55,500

Less costs of additional administration (as there'll still be the standard admin of the season passes), costs of the card and flier design and production and postage of the vouchers. Would doubt this net amount would put much of a dent in the debt or the costs of extending the ground -put into context it's about 12 days of the player wages bill if you're spending the full cap. Weighed up against PR that's been mixed at best, so far you'd question whether it's been worth it, but there should be a surge in demand at the end of the month.

Many high profile soccer clubs in the Premiership offer these schemes and Chelsea and Bolton for instance, i believe, offer similiar schemes to the one at Rovers. Whatever fans think of this iniative or similiar schemes this will be copied in future seasons by most of the progresive clubs within Super league and is also being looked at by other sports. One of the objections put forward is the timing but to be honest there is no right time to start this kind of scheme given the current economic situation and to be fair to HKR the guy who is overseeing matters has only been employed for a few months so it would have been difficult to announce it prior to the season.

The only signal it sends out is they're desperate for cash so are trying to get an advance on next season's pass sales and then trying to increase income from those by over 20%.

Is this a symptom of the passes going on sale so early last season?

The only reason I can imagine is they're desperate for the money now and can't wait until pass renewal time. Plus it makes it easier for some to swallow if they get a nice plastic card for their increased season pass cost.

The Q&A was hastily arranged because the take up of teh scheme has been so slow

And you know this how?, quite sad that you keep having to make up stories to justify your continued support of the team who have taken over Warringtons mantle, as the leagues under achievers.

And your proof of all this is??????????????? As you put it, "you IMAGINE" You FC fans imagine quite a lot and it's usually stuff that makes you feel better about the state of your own club.

I have posted on here before that I think the scheme is a good thing, and like others have pointed out, it is progressive thinking, weather the FC fans like it or not.

I really can't see why a small proportion of our fans are SO fexed off? IT IS HELPING THE CLUB!!!!!!!!

Sorry if this next statement offends some (but it is my honest opinion,) those who seem to be bothered, seem to have a problem with the fact that not all fans are being treated equally anymore? So my question is....... Do you want us to keep progressing, or would you rather we sit on our laurels and pray for good fortune, just so you don't feel left out?

I know there are a vast amount of loyal supporters that can't/won't join club Rovers, this doesn't make anyone of them less loyal or less valued by the club. Imo we are one of the best clubs in SL for valuing it's fans!!! You have to look at it this way though, all SL clubs are businesses (like it or not) and with any business, if you want the best bit of it, you have to pay the premium. Sadly it's just the way it is.

Easty and I were not going to join, as July and August are heavy with financial commitment for us, but we didn't object to the club trying to take us forward!.

As it so happens we have found the money to join and will be more than happy to do so, if it helps in anyway!

Loyalty is a 2 way street Renny.
Rovers do this then we could find that all bets are off.
I also have found the cash for this from somewhere but I am still a tad vexed by it.
Its not the idea Renny its the timing which stinks.
No notice and a very short window of purchase for current pass holders in the middle of a season when no one expects to have to just pull £60 out of thin air.

Quite.

If Rovers are desperate now, what's going to happen next year when that year's income is already partially gone? Robbing Peter to pay Paul is a bit mean on Fox, and is ALWAYS a recipe for future disaster.

That is incorrect Renny.
Anyone who hasn't paid for this scheme is less valued as they may now find they cant get a renewal of a pass they currently own just because someone who has paid for membership (clearly MORE valued) can get a pass.

How much is that pesky bill?

Don't you think that the majority of people paying for this scheme are already pass holders? So therefore, will just get the renewal of the pass they already own, i.e not taking anything from anyone.

No offence Reeny, but as one who really can't afford to join, I am already feeling like a second class supporter. Come next season when events like 'meet the players' are organised for Club members only how do you think we'll feel then? It's not about being valued, because I personally think those days are long gone at Rovers, it's about who is putting the money in, that saddens me.

As I said earlier, had the club said pass prices were going up when they went on sale in January that would have given us time to save up and buy, whereas now i have to pay out membership and then pay for four passes all within three months, just can't be done.

Or a child from one of the school's being visited by Rovers and given free membership, never been to a game in their lives but they can get a pass in the East Stand ahead of me.

I'm not having a go at anyone who does not join, for any reason, Trace. I also didn't say, that those who don't join, are not entitled to their opinions of the scheme. From my point of view, it's helping the club, so is o.k by me and does not anger me in any way. It was just my opinion, like the one above, is yours. x

I did not know that was the case. As far as I was aware, the free memberships were going out to children of parents who had payed to be part of club Rovers. I don't agree with the above, if that is what has happened, it is pretty rough.

12's into 365/6 = 30ish x £55,500 = £1,665,000 so well below full cap after Tax & N.I.

Received via email in answer to my queries today:

That on top of all the others?

So can you tell me why the scheme was introduced at very short notice? Why there was time pressure put on fans to join? Why people are almost compelled to subscribe or lose out in the long run?

Face it love, it is an exercise to raise cash in the short term

In principle I see your point. However, in practice these kids are unlikely to deny you a chance to buy an East stand pass. They have been given membership, not passes - the proportion that go from never having been to a game to season ticket holders overnight will be pretty small, I'd guess.

Trying to capture the next generation of fans, making them feel part of the club, getting them down to CP for the first time, all strikes me as pretty positive. While I'm not naive enough to discount Bandito's cashflow theory, I'm also not so cynical that I can't imagine that the club might want a membership scheme for its own sake, as a positive and progressive initiative. Its not been an easy birth, but hopefully Rovers can learn from that and build it into something that is admired and envied.

But not all which is exaclty the point im making.
A current pass holder is less valued as you put it because he hasn't got £60 on the hip right now.
There is no getting around that fact sorry to say.

But not impossible.
Like it or not if that happens just once the its out of order.