Save the Millers!!

Chasser said:
Interesting idea, however, what would be the return in a deal like that for the big boys. Nothing of any real value, apart from Kudos. No profit, not going to happen.
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Maybe to use as a feeder team, it's possible but not likely though.
 
Talk about kicking a man when he's down. The weather has kyboshed our planned 'Fans United' game against Oldham today. It was called off last night due to a frozen pitch. Fans from all over the country, from every level, had planned to travel to the game, and watch in their club colours, as a show of solidarity behind a fast failing club.

The extra income, not only from the gate, but from the various other related fund raising events planned for the day would have helped no end.

If anyone from on here did plan to travel, I would like to (virtually) shake your hand.

To put things into perspective, the following link is to an article in the Guardian from last week. It's a well written, balanced, and for once well researched piece. Well worth a read: http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1720356,00.html If we are allowed to die, I fear other clubs may soon follow. It's so frustrating when clubs in the premiership are wallowing in cash.

Of course if you have any spare coppers, the links earlier in the thread are still active.

regards

UTM
 
Tony Soprano said:
I think its about time the big Premiership teams sponsor a smaller team in a lower league for exactly this reason.
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Thats a very good idea, it only takes one bad season or manager to take a club down among other circumstances.

I have been to Millmoor to watch Forest, it was a very good away match which we walked away with a 1-1 draw so i can honestly say i was looking forward to going there again next season, i still hope the Millers will still be around for the rematch.
 
Chasser said:
Reesy, Bristol City could be, 25 March is the deadline................
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Im sure the funds should be raised!!

I've seen lots of events that have been happening and looked on the millers boards etc.

Other clubs have helped as well, and it is good to see smaller clubs relying on each other.

Football wouldnt be football if the smaller teams started to exit the football leagues.

Even if you do stay in the league, and get relegated the main factor is that you have survived as a club, which im sure you will do. Just have to keep fighting it.

BTW I went with Pug106 to watch Forest V Rotherham earlier in the season.... Whats going to happen with the half built stand that I noticed? Is this still going ahead or have the developments carried on?
 
The stand is going to be completed, but the corporate hospitality bits will be on hold. Basically they will be able to put bums on seats for games, but the added extras (which is where the potential for income other than match days lies) will have to wait.
 
Reesy said:
Im sure the funds should be raised!!

I've seen lots of events that have been happening and looked on the millers boards etc.
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i wish i was as confident. :(

supposedly raised about 150k so far which is a mile off the target given the imminent deadline. we need someone to come in with money and a passion for rotherham because the club is losing money week after week.

does anyone have roman abramovich's postal address? it's one thing taking a top 5 club to the top and (maybe) winning the champions league.... but can he take a tier 3 club on the brink of extinction into the premiership? :D

:(

A few items for auction btw:
http://www.themillers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Auctions/0,,10360,00.html

including a David Seaman jersey!

all proceeds go to the club so get bidding!!
 
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The last I heard we currently have about £165,000 so it looks like we'll be saying goodbye to the millers :(

If I have to cheer for another team it's gonna be sheff Utd. I'd rather get kicked in the nuts than cheer for sheff wed :p
 
mmj_uk said:
does anyone have roman abramovich's postal address? it's one thing taking a top 5 club to the top and (maybe) winning the champions league.... but can he take a tier 3 club on the brink of extinction into the premiership? :D
He's already donated £20,000. They've tried to hassle him for more but don't know if anything came of it
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wordy said:
He's already donated £20,000. They've tried to hassle him for more but don't know if anything came of it
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He didn't, that proved to be a hoax.

For those interested, from the RUST meet at Magna last Tuesday:

RUFC: The Current Position

There are enough funds in place to keep the club going until 19 March. At that point a £73,000 PAYE bill is due for February's wages.

The debt to the Inland Revenue currently stands at £630,000. RUFC couldn't pay the IR bills in December and January which led to the insolvency practitioners being called in.

A vote will be taken by the RUST membership next week about what should be done with the c£57,000 currently held as part of the Save The Millers campaign. RUST have spoken to potential investors. RUST have also spoken to Roger Stone who, in a personal capacity, has obtained pledges of £87,000 should the club get through until the end of the season.


The Way Forward?


John Harrison gave a breakdown as to how the club were in the current mess. The costs that were in the club when Millers 05 took over, and which couldn't be avoided, meant that average attendances would have to be 5,700 in order for the club to break even. The budget was not planned around getting that number - that was what was needed.

However, there were a number of unexpected costs in relation to the new
stand, Premier Club income failing to materialise, Southend & JCR. Southend were condemned by both RUST & the fans for their behaviour. The current debts are: £630,000 - CF Booth; £200,000 - Trevor Smallwood; £100,000 - AN Other investor; £127,000 - Trade Creditors; £630,000 - Inland Revenue; £140,000 - Monthly cashflow shortage. There is a possibility the Inland Revenue will issue a 7 day letter. If they aren't paid, they will begin winding up the club.

RUFC need £500,000 to get to the end of the season, £165,000 raised so far. If an extra 1500 came to each of the last few games, that in itself would raise £100,000. A further £1 million is needed to finalise the stand - £300,000 would mean that the first phase could be completed (all seats, a few bars).

The options are:

1. Liquidate the club - RUST has a 26% shareholding. RUFC need the agreement of 75% of shareholders for that to happen.

2. Administration - but don't have the cash to pay for it, and the ten point deduction would mean we would be relegated and still have a lot of the problems next season.

3. Wait for the ITV Digital litigation. Could be worth £4million to RUFC - but if the League win, it's likely to be appealed which means a settlement, if any, is unlikely before the end of 2006.

4. Continue with

a)Millers 05 - but clear they've run out of money and want out.
b)Fans ownership - Millers 05 have said they will transfer their shares to RUST, but we would need a board of directors and significant additional funds.
c)Takeover by others - would still need substantial amount of capital and it isn't fair to ask just one person to do that.

RUST's Proposal

1. Save The Millers campaign to be put on a more professional basis - bank accounts separate from both RUFC and RUST. Professional fundraisers to organise it (have already had offers of help). The campaign would then continue for 1 - 2 years.

2. Encourage investors to come forward with a minimum investment (collectively) of £500,000. That would be enough to finish the first phase of the main stand, pay off the trade creditors and also the £73,000 February IR bill. RUST have spoken to 6 potential investors who are interested in supporting the RUST proposal.

3. Supporters to commit to monthly standing order of £25 for c.2 years. If 1,000 fans did that, would be able to raise £25,000 per month which would then go to paying off the £630,000 owed to the IR. Businesses could also become involved and donate a larger amount per month. Any money put in in this way would go into separate bank accounts and be paid to the IR. The money would not be a gift. If, following a settlement with ITV Digital, fans wanted their money back they could be given it out of proceeds from the litigation. If the ITV case was lost, or fans didn't want their money back, this would then be converted into shares in the club for each individual, and in the meantime the IR would have been kept off our backs.

Potential investors are interested in all of the above but want to be sure that it has the backing of the fans before committing.

It's not looking good.
 
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wordy said:
If I have to cheer for another team it's gonna be sheff Utd. I'd rather get kicked in the nuts than cheer for sheff wed :p
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Yeah me too, I wouldn't want to be a pig that's why we have such low attendances, cos all of the locals would rather support a fashionable team like Sheff Wed than their local team.

Neil Warnock has been very generous too loaning us 2 players for free.
 
Chasser said:
John Harrison gave a breakdown as to how the club were in the current mess. The costs that were in the club when Millers 05 took over, and which couldn't be avoided, meant that average attendances would have to be 5,700 in order for the club to break even. The budget was not planned
around getting that number - that was what was needed.
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Is that the same John Harrison who was financial director up until getting kicked off the board because he'd made such a mess of them? As if you set a budget based on championship attendences when we knew for A FACT that we were to be relegated to League 1.

also Rotherham are featured on JohnBarnes footy night tonight and footy focus tomorrow.
 
The same John Harrison. Why didn't we invest when we had the chance in the premiership. I don't blame Boothy, it's his sons, and one of them is a Dee Dah.

I couldn't go over to the blunts (and nothing would make me a Wendy). I suppose if the worse was to happen, we would have to raise a new team for the town.


Yep, John Barnes has Peter R as a guest I believe.
 
wordy said:
If I have to cheer for another team it's gonna be sheff Utd. I'd rather get kicked in the nuts than cheer for sheff wed :p
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....and that there is why there's no chance in hell of me giving any cash to Rotherham. Always tickled me how they hate Wednesday so much. Wonder how many Rotherham fans would do the same for us......
 
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