Failure to Prepare was Preparing to Fail

I really cant stand our club anymore! Still have the ST and will attend but not in the heart anymore - I am now too informed and can see this club for what it is! A childs plaything which the child doesnt appreciate or look after! Not renewing next year regardless of our finish!

See it a little different, got my back turned ready to be shot here.

I get as watered of as the next man with our club, I'm self employed and have been forever, so nobody see's lack of performance worse than me, if i'd have performed as bad as we have done as a football club in the past 5 years or so I would be destitute by now, i'm sick to death of it to be honest, BUT if (and it's a big if) you can afford to purchase a ticket and you are a supporter (not fan), not buying a ticket is unthinkable!

Thats me done, lets debate.

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Well for the 4th season running we've not got out of the blocks, of course we can improve but already we are 5 points off top position which let's be honest is where everyone feels we should be in this division. No we don't want to pile pressure on, but we must be looking to win automatic promotion - and why not.

Our fault these last few years appears to be "Failure to Prepare" we just simply aren't ready. I won't go into previous seasons otherwise i'll be here all day.

My concerns are:

The Budget - Well apparently we didn't have one until halfway through the summer!
The reasoning was we didn't have the exact info regarding Conference payments, TV Money etc.
Tough! We should have dealt DC a minimum budget (that could always have been added to later to gain bonus players). Give him a budget, whatever it is and tell him to do what he's paid to do - MANAGE.

Squad - We were told by DC he would have a full squad in place by June so as a FULL PRE-SEASON TRAINING regime could be done (therefore confirming players need time to gel, get match fit, learn the new tactics etc). We didn't do it and they have arrived slowly (some unfit) and two games in we are still short. By the time we have what Darrel wants or needs we will be ten games in and most likely the Automatic Promotion ship will have sailed.

The season has begun and sorry, but we are not prepared! I've heard the battle cries, but i don't see the substance.

So, Where has it gone wrong from the days in May when we were all told Darrell is the man, he knows what he wants and is going to get it, and we will have a top budget for this season.

This is where we the fan's are left in the dark so often. The club seem to be saying "There's money in the pot". Darrell seems to be saying "I had a decent budget, but it's been cut more than once"


What worries me most i think is, we were a proud league club for so long. now we have dropped through the trap door we seem to be almost converting ourselves into a non-league set up. We have gone for Non-League Manager, Non-League players and a Non-League Budget. If we want to be a League Club i think we may have twisted too soon. I hope i'm wrong and the new vision of "Win the Conference with Conference Players" works. I just worry we've lowered our expectations and standards a little quickly for my liking.

I don't want to criticise or slag off anyone, i want Bristol Rovers to rise again. My genuine biggest concern is the apathy that surrounds our club, we're constantly settling for second best, we can and should do so much better. I think the club is for want of a better word "Stale" and it needs waking up sharply, maybe some people involved with the club have been here too long and the drive has gone. As i say i'm not singling anyone out. As i look at Directors, Staff and Supporters i see tiredness, shrugs of shoulders and disappointment followed by defensive behaviour and comments. I want to see optimism, fight and determination in everyones faces from Box 1 to the Family Enclosure and until we do you can forget the nitty gritty of where or how its going wrong. This club needs a damn good shake up. I don't care who does it and i hope the present leaders can do it.

We need action, We need it now. It wont just " Be OK"

It's time to "STEP UP AND PLAY"