Re: Dons V Keighley Sunday 21st August 2022 3pm : Mon Aug 22, 2022 10:00 am  

Keith Lard's Dog wrote:

Surely the revenue generated from being in The Championship will make up for the previous years spend if we pushed the boat out next season and went for it.

Home games against Bradford , Fev ,Batley ,Halifax , Leigh even the Seagulls would see the coffers swell well above the coach full of fans from Oldham ,Hunslet ,Rochdale and North Wales
.
We have one of the best stadia in the country , I'm sure with a team to match we could put Doncaster City on the RL map.

Absolutely, we have everything in place to be a Keighley, the wealth of our owners dwarfs that of keighleys but sadly our ambition gets dwarfs by theres. We're not asking to do a leigh when we get there just be competitive, Keighley have shown how easy it is to get promoted and like you allude to the revenue will offset alot of that when in the championship. It's surely time for the club to throw the long suffering fans a bone.

Re: Dons V Keighley Sunday 21st August 2022 3pm : Mon Aug 22, 2022 10:35 am  

Keith Lard's Dog wrote:

Surely the revenue generated from being in The Championship will make up for the previous years spend if we pushed the boat out next season and went for it.

Home games against Bradford , Fev ,Batley ,Halifax , Leigh even the Seagulls would see the coffers swell well above the coach full of fans from Oldham ,Hunslet ,Rochdale and North Wales
.
We have one of the best stadia in the country , I'm sure with a team to match we could put Doncaster City on the RL map.

I've been banging that increased revenue drum until I'm blue in the face with it. The stadium could be right up there but having witnessed the catering shambles yesterday I have loads of sympathy with the numerous football fans who suffer crap service and crap food all the time. They need to have a look at how Hull cater for their home games.

It does not appear DM that Club Doncaster are willing to speculate to accumulate. It is a gamble, I'm sure that we are capable of attracting the players we need to go up and then to stabilise. Its getting the lift off that is needed.

Re: Dons V Keighley Sunday 21st August 2022 3pm : Mon Aug 22, 2022 10:39 am  

I don't think we should write off this season yet. We've beaten N Wales and Swinton away so there are definitely reasons to be hopeful. I know we all want the Dons to be the best team in the league when each season starts. We've come up short on that one but second prize is promotion.

I realise that if we do get promoted we'll feel we're starting some way behind Keighley in our Championship journey but that will give us a chance to see what levels of investment Club Doncaster are prepared to put into the team.

Regarding Ben Howe, I'm not part of Facebook so don't see what's said on there but I think Ben is a great prospect for the future. I would hate us to lose him if his situation isn't being handled as well as it should. If his dad is unhappy about him not being picked, this is either because Richard Horne isn't explaining the situation very well to Ben or Ben isn't explaining things very well to his dad. Perhaps Richard Horne needs to have a chat with his dad!

I'm pleased we've got a club and I'm grateful to all those (including players and backroom staff) who do their bit to keep the show on the road but the total extent of a club or fans ambition shouldn't be survival. We should all be striving to make the Dons better year-on-year to get us to the highest place we possibly can. To me, a realistic target is the top half of the Championship.

Re: Dons V Keighley Sunday 21st August 2022 3pm : Mon Aug 22, 2022 10:49 am  

As for Ben Howe, I have read that thread and feel for the bloke just like any Father would. I think the kid is a good prospect he has hardly put a foot wrong and his back up play his excellent. Tough decision for the Coach and with Misi having a hard game yesterday and the injury to young Storey he may get a chance on Friday.

Re: Dons V Keighley Sunday 21st August 2022 3pm : Mon Aug 22, 2022 10:52 am  

Wilf Grimshaw wrote:

It does not appear DM that Club Doncaster are willing to speculate to accumulate. It is a gamble, I'm sure that we are capable of attracting the players we need to go up and then to stabilise. Its getting the lift off that is needed.

When I was part of the fans' panel group, Carl used to say that Club Doncaster would support the Dons financially in whatever way the club needed it. If Richard Horne wanted a player, they would back him.

What is happening? Is Richard Horne not able to attract the types of players Keighley have been able to bring in? Is the money not really there, so we're trying to do eveything on a very tight budget?

I agree with Wilf, it seems to make sense to invest to get promoted because the revenue streams from playing at a higher level would have many advantages. We would have a greater chance of building a bigger fanbase if playing competitive matches at a higher level week-in, week-out rather than having so many dull games in League One that for the most part don't excite fans.

Re: Dons V Keighley Sunday 21st August 2022 3pm : Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:37 am  

My hope is DM now that the Covid related shutdown is over and debts have been repaid that the purse strings can be widened a little, the barometer with that is the way the Rovers have gone for experienced signings rather than the loans that ushered in last years shambles and relegation. The whole way Club Doncaster is run financially is to ensure that they can always pay their way and no debt. Admirable philosophy and I have no doubt sound thinking, but that does not put bums on seats. As I say perhaps greener shoots (financially) are appearing and I really do hope that we can get into a "If you build it, they will come" situation

Re: Dons V Keighley Sunday 21st August 2022 3pm : Mon Aug 22, 2022 2:17 pm  

Just a thought but with IMG taking over the running of the game and a restructuring of the existing format due to take place ,surely with the stadium and the debt free position of Club Doncaster we could be in the box seat if a licensing system is introduced.

What would be more favourable from a business perspective a multi million pound stadium with city status, good links to the motorway and rail networks or some backwater pit village with a dilapidated main stand and a breeze block wall to p1ss against.

Re: Dons V Keighley Sunday 21st August 2022 3pm : Mon Aug 22, 2022 2:42 pm  

Wilf Grimshaw wrote:

My hope is DM now that the Covid related shutdown is over and debts have been repaid that the purse strings can be widened a little, the barometer with that is the way the Rovers have gone for experienced signings rather than the loans that ushered in last years shambles and relegation. The whole way Club Doncaster is run financially is to ensure that they can always pay their way and no debt. Admirable philosophy and I have no doubt sound thinking, but that does not put bums on seats. As I say perhaps greener shoots (financially) are appearing and I really do hope that we can get into a "If you build it, they will come" situation

I'm sure the loss of income from Covid has been a factor. Hopefully, things will get better now life is back to normal but some things can be put right without money though... such as good communications with fans. If you don't make fans feel included, they won't feel part of whatever project you may be building towards. Isolate fans (your customers) and you're creating an uphill struggle. In fact, you can recreate resentment amongst the people who should be on your side.

What can be inproved? Regular communications with Carl Hall through an In The Dugout-type presentation; match highlights available on a regular basis; whole game replays of home and away matches made available; news about players (I never heard anything about the release of Keiran Lawton, for example - that went under the radar); create a better connection between the coach and the fans, Richard Horne could come over to fans with the players after the match for example; make the minutes of the Fans Group meetings readily available for all to see; to name but a few.

Re: Dons V Keighley Sunday 21st August 2022 3pm : Mon Aug 22, 2022 6:03 pm  

Agree DM regarding comms, it does require being improved. The media guy who heads up the Rovers interviews and pre match show (all on Youtube) is excellent. Club Doncaster have taken on Liam Holden the ex Free press editor, so there is no shortage of talent and experience. Dons supporters get the square root of chuff all (should that be Hall) either pre match or post match. Our play maker stand off goes AWOL for two weeks and rumours abound, if he's on his holiday bobs whats wrong with that announcement. Get a grip, its a sporting club that require fans its not MI5.

[Wanderer]

Re: Dons V Keighley Sunday 21st August 2022 3pm : Mon Aug 22, 2022 7:59 pm  

Wilf Grimshaw wrote:

Our play maker stand off goes AWOL for two weeks and rumours abound, if he's on his holiday bobs whats wrong with that announcement. Get a grip, its a sporting club that require fans its not MI5.

I find this a very strange one. There may be a perfectly good reason why he is away but he isn't a recent signing with already committed holidays. If there is a logical reason then this could have been communicated by now.