Newsletter - October 2023
MoU Update | Rovers Women Sponsorship | Fans Takeover | Safe Standing
October 4, 2023
After five years at the helm of the Trust, during which he has overseen some major changes, John Murray has decided to retire as Trust Chair to enable more time for his business ventures and his family life. He leaves the Trust in a strong position. The Board elected Mike Graham as interim Chair and thanked John for his time, effort and enthusiasm while wishing him well in his next venture.
We have already decided on the following agenda items for our next meeting with the Club. If any member has any suggestions as to other items please email the Chair on chair@roverstrust.com
We are THE Rovers are pleased to have sponsored two of the women players. We also plan to have a Trust stall at their game at Leyland on the 15th October.
We Are THE Rovers have just formally agreed with the Club to work on another 'Fans Takeover' on 23rd December v Watford. We have a planning meeting with the Club on 19th October and we plan to extend a welcome to brfcs.com along with RoversChat, the South Asian Supporters Group and Proud Rovers.
The theme will be a "Blue & White Christmas" and it will be supplemented with flags and banners and we encourage fans to also bring their own. WATCH THIS SPACE!!
We have impressed on the Club the need to involve supporters at an early stage in the planning for 2025. This has been agreed albeit the details of involvement need to be agreed. We have a Trust Board member, Steve Williams, who leads on heritage issues, if you have any ideas on recognising and promoting our 150 years of heritage please contact him via heritage@roverstrust.co.uk
Our last Newsletter erroneously stated a meeting would be held involving either Steve Waggott and / or Gregg Broughton in October. This has not been agreed and was news to the Club; our discussions however are now focussed on a Trust open meeting hopefully with John Dahl Tomasson around February 2024.
We are attending a meeting with the Club on 3rd October to discuss a Safe Standing section. Key issues include: where; when; licensing authority agreement; consultation with fans and of course financing. The Trust have produced a brief paper for the meeting and copies are available to members on request.
The Trust have expressed our disappointment and disapproval at the closing of the BBE for the Cardiff Carabo Cup game. We expressed concern at the lack of effective communications for the reasons and the fact the closure was 'hidden' in the ticketing announcement. We do not feel the financial case is a strong one and that the decision has sadly alienated a good number of the Rovers fanbase.
We are acutely aware of the ageing look and navigation of our website and the long term failings in our membership system. We have agreed to invest in a new site and a new membership system which should enable us to better communicate with members. Work starts on this in October. If you have any membership queries about your membership please contact our Membership Secretary Janet Rutter on membership@roverstrust.co.uk
