This bit sticks in my throat somewhat but I have to say the rovers fundraising fans organisation which has recently disbanded has to be admired, no doubt about that, they have proved to be a big help to the club in tougher times and gave something for the fans to rally around and to enable them to feel that they were doing their bit to help. In fairness hearing detail of their situation from the Rovers administration has never really been an issue for their fan base and it wasn't for us at one time either.

Adam used to sometimes even be accused of saying too much at times, in some very regular interviews, but changes in the administration at our club has seen all that stop as have the fans forums. Now it appears the lid is firmly on everything. We will no doubt get a questionnaire from time to time to gauge our views, but nothing face to face. Some cite above Jamie Shauls planned forum but you're not telling me that where a fans organisation to arrange a forum featuring Smith, Clark and say Adam it wouldn't at present pack a place out. But who is there to actually press hard for it on behalf of the fans?

With exception of the vice Presidents association, which although appearing a tad elitist to some, does a fabulous job for the club, but we don't appear to have a representative voice at present at all or indeed a conduit through which to press the club for some explanation and answers.

There are two real models for fans organisations ones like HISA which was formed in adversity in 1998 (and which probably saved the club in one historic meeting with the then Gateshead administration). They had a paying membership, a fanzine etc which is great at times of massive trouble when everyone has one goal , saving the club. But once the big issue is settled, then managing a subscription based organisation with a wide spectrum of views, (from passionate folks all of whom pay their subs and believe they are right), through the more run of the mill fans issues, just becomes unwieldy, thus HISA folded. .

We tried to form FC voices in its wake, in an attempt to gain some middle ground without a membership but with a mandate and constitution recognised by the club and we tried to get the message through to the club with regular meetings with the owner etc. No one was ever refused when wanting to join the committee which worked hard to represent the fan base. WE had an agreement for two Forums a year which the club stood by, and we tried to bring the fans together with projects like regular memorabilia fairs, projects like the funding and creation of the boulevard memorial and the refurbishment of the Jack Harrison memorial, the annual Veterans Day service at the stadium, arranging the voting for the fans player of the year and providing the trophy, social events etc.Whilst taking up the broad issues raised by the fans in a monthly meeting between the chairman and the owner. they still exist I believe but are obviously finding it hard to fill the void. So in recent times that seems to have faded away too. Therefore, at present we have no voice directly with the Club. And perhaps these days that suits them, for it seems to.

If anyone wants to form an independent fans group they would have my support but good luck cos it aint easy.

But I guess what I'm trying too say in yet another waffly post is that (possibly by design but I hope not) the club has become a closed shop organisation who only tells its life blood the stake holders out there on the terraces what they want them to here when they want them to hear it. We seem to find out more from good old Dan Tomlinson on who's signed etc.
All we need as fans who love our club, 'bleed' when we get humiliated on the field and hate to see it going backwards is a bit of hope, but as always its the hope that kills us isn't it.

Fair enough. For me however, it wouldn't be a financially motivated transaction, more a case of a charitable donation to a cause I care about passionately. If a share offer was acceptable to the board and the opportunity for dividends tempted more to invest then it would of course be a good option. Any individual could refuse a dividend payout and leave the money in the club (or reinvest it) if they so wished.

Wouldn't be a purchase for dividend, and being honest would not expect give the state of RL as a game they would ever generate one.

It would be about owning a microscopic part of the club that has been in the blood of my family for generations; wouldn't expect any returns, voting rights, whatever. Just to be a shareholder - even a single share - would be enough.

There must be a method of contributing that's attractive to supporters and acceptable to the club. As Chris 71 says, if 3000 signed up at £10 / 20 each per month that would be a significant income stream for the club.