UPDATE - Forming a Coalition for United Action

The Board of WATR met on Sunday evening, 25th May 2025.

As you are aware, we have faced significant challenges in maintaining communication with the football club since the turn of the year. Despite our numerous attempts to arrange meetings, the Club's board has consistently made excuses and used delay tactics to avoid formal discussions. This has been particularly concerning given the recent departure of the CEO, Steve Waggott, who was our main point of contact.

We want to emphasise that WATR has made every effort to maintain meaningful contact with the Club. However, it has become increasingly clear that we are being pushed aside and kept in the dark. This lack of communication has driven us to seek alternative methods to ensure that the voices of our members and fans are heard.

Considering these ongoing issues, we believe there is enough common ground, and the time is now right to work with other supporter groups under the banner of the "coalition." By coming together, we can tackle these challenges with a united front and ensure that the interests of all supporters are represented. We would like to put on record that this decision was arrived at by reviewing recent member survey responses, which unequivocally stated the desire to work closely with other supporter groups.

WATR has always had a policy of engagement with the club, and this will continue if the club is willing to meaningfully engage. However, we will also continue to 'call out' our Club when necessary, which prompts us to say, “enough is enough”. The farcical circumstances that led to the departure of three well-respected managers, multiple capitulations on the pitch due to a lack of investment and ambition in the January transfer window, the downgrading of the women's team, redundancies among back-office staff, and the appointments of inexperienced individuals in senior strategic roles do not align with the culture of a club that once proudly represented the town it serves. We are desperate to see change and urge the owners to seriously consider their impact on the club, its employees, the supporters, and the town. It is time for them to seek to pass the ownership to someone who is more responsible.

We are committed to resolving this situation and will continue to seek opportunities to engage with the Club's leadership. Your support and patience during this time are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for being a part of We Are The Rovers.

Please send comments to chair@roverstrust.co.uk