Fans group in call for affirmative action over SMC stadium fiasco

Doncaster Rovers fans thought that the 30-year long and arduous road to their new "Keepmoat Stadium" was behind them and that they could look forward to simply enjoying their new surroundings as they aim for "Destination Championship".

However, news is emerging of the growing fury felt by Rovers fans who feel that they are being ill-used by the Stadium Management Committee who now run the new Keepmoat Stadium. After 3 Rovers matches with near capacity gates, the fans are thoroughly fed up with the serial incompetence of the SMC who are seen to be mismanaging the stadium, and with the failure of Mayor Winter to bring them to heel.

Such is the extent of the fans' ire that an independent user group, "StadiumWatch", has been formed, with the aim of confronting the SMC over issues such as poor ticketing arrangements, massive queues, surly staff, high and discriminatory prices for parking, for refreshments and food, a litany of broken promises over the themed Supporters Bar, the failure to meet Mayor Winter's commitment to enshrine user clubs' representation on the SMC, contradictory policy statements, and more recently aggressive stewarding at the cup game against Darlington.

In contrast with the outstanding success of Doncaster Rovers, over the move from Belle Vue, and team performance on the pitch, the SMC is proving to be a real drag for fans. The SMC should stand back in awe at the professional approach of Rovers Chairman John Ryan and his staff.

StadiumWatch, have called for a campaign of affirmative action by Rovers fans to show the SMC that as primary consumers of the stadium complex, they cannot be treated as a captive audience of milch cows, to be parted with their hard earned cash every other Saturday, without a second thought as to value for money and quality of service.

Under the slogan, "Are you prepared to do nothing for your Club and your fellow supporters", StadiumWatch are asking fans to judge whether they are getting value for money from the goods and services provided by the SMC, and vote with their wallets, doing nothing to enrich their coffers if, as many believe, they find them sub-standard and over-priced.

StadiumWatch spokesman, Nigel Wroe said, "We are fed up of queueing in the rain for hours on end because of incompetent planning over the ticket office, over the hours of operation they work, having to pay in cash due to "technical problems". A thousand fans were still waiting for tickets last Tuesday as the Darlington game kicked off. 500 were let in for half price and the others went home soaked to the skin. That has cost Rovers thousands of pounds in lost revenue and a soured experience for new fans. It was a scandal that the club felt it had to apologise on behalf of the SMC over which it has little influence".

So StadiumWatch, on behalf of all fans, Rovers, Belles and Lakers alike, are calling for fans to try the alternative products on offer around the stadium and make their own minds up where best value can be obtained.

"If fans decide that the SMC are not providing value for money, they will eat at the burger bars on the way in, and drink at the local pubs for £1 a pint less. They will park in the unofficial car parks for £2 and £3 and shun the official car parks where it costs Rovers fans £5 to park, compared with £2 when the Belles are playing", said Nigel Wroe.

"Such affirmative action cannot harm Rovers per se, as they do not share in any of the monies extorted by the SMC. In the long run, if value for money can be assured, efficiency improves, and customer satisfaction rises, it can only help Rovers maintain and increase their attendances".

Nigel Wroe spoke highly of Rovers' fans director Andy Liney, "Andy has been doing a marvellous job trying to educate the inexperienced executives at the SMC, but they just don't want to take the strength of the fans feelings seriously. It is a far cry from the representation on the SMC that Mayor Winter promised at the outset". StadiumWatch involvement can help the SMC focus on what Andy Liney is telling them.

Jeremy Milnes, SMC Commercial Director, now better known as "Rent a Quote Milnes", stated the main mission of the SMC when he said recently, "We want to make some money".

Nigel Wroe is scathing over the general conduct of the SMC, "It has been several weeks since letters were sent asking about their Customers Charter and their lack of a public service ethos over what is essentially a community owned asset. They have yet to reply. Where do I go next, the Mayor, the Ombudsman? To say the SMC have been handpicked by Ian Spowart (Chairman) and the Mayor, their behaviour is scandalous and the Doncaster public will not tolerate it".

Rovers' fans have formed the impression that the "suits" at the SMC are jealous of the glamour associated with Rovers success and high profile. They have made scant effort to promote the other community facilities on offer, such as the all weather pitches, the athletics track and the mini-stadium, and simply want to cash in on Rovers prestige, while undermining the growth of the club.

Even the Football in the Community organisation has found itself priced out of the stadium. Whereas it cost £35 to rent a function room at Old Belle Vue for a kiddie's party, the SMC are trying to extort £500 a time off families and community groups.

Nigel Wroe has stated, "The fans recognise that in the entertainment business, the customer is king, and if the SMC continue to use us and abuse us, they will feel a financial penalty in lost revenue. As campaign momentum picks up and sales suffer, eventually even the SMC will get the message. StadiumWatch is going to be here for as long as it takes".

"We will soon have our website up www.stadiumwatch.co.uk so fans can continue to register their anger at the shabby treatment and extortionate prices. In the meantime they should maintain their rage".

The SMC have handpicked a number of what are seen to be fairly compliant individuals to serve on their putative "user group" as lip service to demands for representation, but the vast majority of fans believe that only independent thought and action can win through, hence the founding of StadiumWatch.

Nigel Wroe added, "Debate over the debacle which is the SMC has been raging for weeks on the fans' internet sites, which represent the views of over a thousand Rovers supporters. Naturally Rovers fans are in the vanguard at the moment but Belles and Lakers supporters are invited to participate in their own interests". There are a number of issues which have been identified by a significant body of fans through the VSC and the YAURS! internet forums and which StadiumWatch has formulated into specific immediate aims.

Immediate Aims:link

Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are those of StadiumWatch and in no way are represented to be associated with or by Doncaster Rovers FC, their officers or employees.

Fans' director, Andy Liney has been an instrumental participant in the various working groups associated with the stadium and in securing the best interests of Rovers fans. It is in this context that reference is made to Andy Liney. He has no official affiliation with StadiumWatch.

Notes:

1. The £32m Keepmoat Stadium Complex hosted Doncaster Rovers first fixture on January 1st 2007 when Rovers ran out 3-0 winners over Yorkshire rivals, Huddersfield Town, in front of a near 15,000 attendance.
2. Nigel Wroe is a life-long Rovers fan and season ticket holder who regularly travels from Hampshire to follow Doncaster Rovers. He formed Rovers premier unofficial site www.yaurs.com 9 years ago in the dark days of the Conference.  Contact: nigel.wroe@stadiumwatch.co.uk
3. Andy Liney is a member of the Viking Supporters Club and fans' director on the board of Doncaster Rovers. He worked ceaselessly for 5 years to help make the stadium a reality, and is considered by StadiumWatch to be custodian of all the promises and commitments made by the Mayor and working groups leading up to the opening of the stadium. Since then he has worked tirelessly trying to get the SMC to learn from Rovers' experienced professionals, and trying to get them to fulfil the earlier commitments of Mayor Winter, with scant progress but many promises to do better.  Contact: andy.liney@virgin.net
4. The SMC are the face of the Lakeside Sports Complex LLP, which is owned by the DMBC (Doncaster Council) and the Dearne Valley Leisure Trust. The DMBC pay public monies to the trust (upwards of £200,000 p.a.) which is also a charity, and have appointed Malcolm Jevons (Councillor) as the DMBC's nominee.
5. The DVLT work from premises provided for free by the DMBC and acknowledge in their accounts that they rely on the DMBC to continue in existence.
6. It is not clear why the DVLT are involved at all in the LLP. StadiumWatch is seeking information and explanations from the Mayor.

SW 200701 PR001 - 17/01/2007 16:00

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