You Don't Know What You're doing!

"You don't know what you're doing" is a familiar refrain heard at every football ground in the country, and aimed at the man in the middle, the man in black, the referee.

At the Keepmoat Stadium at the new Doncaster Lakeside Complex, it is a refrain directed at the men in grey, grey suits that is. The Stadium Management Committee, otherwise known as the SMC, (otherwise referred to by disaffected Doncaster Rovers fans, as "Screw More Cash"), hand-picked by Doncaster's Mayor, Martin Winter, and ineffectually led by Andrew Nicholl CEO, have systematically blundered from one debacle to another and have alienated thousands of Rovers fans in less than two months of being in charge of the KMS, as the stadium is known.

Next weekend Nicholl, un-ably assisted by side-kick, Jeremy Milnes, Commercial Director, get to add several thousand more to that number, as fans of Doncaster Lakers, the town's rugby league team start streaming through the turn-styles as the their season gets under way.

StadiumWatch

Fans have not stood idly by while the SMC systematically destroyed the romance they wanted to kick-off with their all-new, spiritual home. They have formed StadiumWatch, a pressure-group, to force the mayor to give the SMC a collective red-card.

Originally the Mayor agreed a "three plus one" model, similar to the way Swansea's SMC is run. The three clubs, football, rugby and ladies football, plus the council were to be in partnership to run the complex, but the council changed their minds after the clubs had signed up. It is inconceivable that the clubs themselves would treat their fans with such contempt as is shown by the SMC.

Nigel Wroe, spokesman for StadiumWatch, has complained vigorously to the mayor, "Winter is public servant number one in this borough and he has to show the SMC who is calling the shots. I got onto him to kick some butt, literally, and at last Nicholl has emerged out of his managerial coma. In fact just a couple of days ago he managed to acknowledge receipt of a letter I sent him on 2nd January!"

Model Charter

StadiumWatch have launched a model customer charter for the SMC to adopt to give them a sense of direction and purpose. "I challenged them to state their aims from the moment they were handed the stadium, but they haven't the faintest idea what their purpose is, and I blame the mayor for this", said Wroe.

"I spoke with Milnes on 15th December last year about the lack of a Customer Charter, and he promised me a written response within 7 days, but of course he hasn't bothered, maybe the mayor's size 12 boot print on his shiny backside will do the trick", speculated Wroe.

"The SMC has simply no idea what they are doing and why they are here, it is as if they simply can't believe their luck in being gifted a stadium by the council, then along comes £1m out of nowhere from sponsorship, so they went back into hibernation, job done they think.", he continued.

"We have presented the SMC with a model charter to give them a sense of purpose and to remind them that the stadium complex is a community asset, to be run in the interests of the Doncaster public, not in the interests of the SMC", said Wroe.

"With the help of Winter's well-aimed swipe, and the new model charter, we think we can get the SMC back on track", he continued. "Now they know what they have to do, and importantly, they now know who they have to do it for! "

Model Charter: PDF Version

Notes:

For Rovers fans, a number of issues arose before the stadium opened for business.

1. The SMC reneged on a decision agreed with the Mayor when the stadium plans were being finalised, that the sporting clubs would have their very own themed sports bar, 7-days a week, located in the stadium. The SMC unilaterally decided to override the Mayor on this, so the bar has gone, to be replaced by a soulless imitation wine-bar. The SMC has suggested an electronic sign be displayed at the entrance on match-days, declaring the bar as the "Rovers Return", or the "Lakers Lounge". Fans see very little mileage in this "concession", not least because the SMC-run electronic scoreboards in Saturday's match re-set the half-time score to 0-0, and couldn't keep track of elapsed time.
2. The ticketing is run on behalf of the clubs by the SMC, and has been shambolic from day one. With queues of 2-3 hours for major fixtures, early closing of the ticket office, surly unhelpful staff, cash-only sales as the SMC forgot to set up credit card facilities in time, double selling of seats, and miscounting at the turn-styles.
3. Prices for drinks and food in the bars and concourses are described as extortionate and are so high that StadiumWatch are fearful that families will be not be able to afford to attend, which will hit the revenues of the clubs.
4. Aggressive stewarding has been cited for the roughing up of a father and son during a recent game.
5. Ongoing pettiness with Rovers match-day officials by banning them from areas which had been ceded to the club by prior agreement.
6. StadiumWatch resources are available from http://www.stadiumwatch.co.uk
7. The DMBC and the DVLT are designated partners in the Lakeside Sports Complex LLP.

SW 200702 PR003 - 05/02/2007 08:00

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.

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