This. 8-9K crowds and the team getting hammered every week in a 25K stadium looks empty and the atmosphere is poor. We’ve proven we can attract nearer 15K regularly if we have a play off standard team and who knows what the ceiling is if we ever have period of real success. The crowds and atmosphere will sort itself out if the playing side does.

The stadium has looked less like home in recent years but we’ve been unable to pay for some of the stuff City do. Don’t see why we couldn’t name a stand and have more influence on the little things if we can afford to do so.

Had to bite!
Even more difficult when someone chops your quotes to suit an agenda . Money coming into the sport is good..for the sport. There's no "papping" ourselves from our side when you bare in mind the levels Rovers have reached. I was complimentary to Hull today by saying they can't fail to get it right in the end, moreover there's scope for mistakes too now with money in the fact you can pay players off and pay fees potentially for others. Our board (Sewell in particular) very clearly stated at the end of 2022 that investment in the sport to a lot of teams is important, he and the rest didnt want Rovers to be top 4 or top 2 in a pish poor financed competition, the sharpen of the focus would be if Hull and others got investment on board.

I'd love a good debate on here, rlfans has died a death basically since it's hey day hasn't it?! But one of the last times I came on here COYH (the quote chopper themselves)saw their Iestyn Arris' cos I commented on an FC friendly defeat wondering why I was on here. (It was a quiet game day elsewhere!) Bizzare comment but hey ho.
Do browse here and there and theres been some royal entertainment over the past year. Bonaire is an absolute corker of positivity!!
Bring on the Derbies, i hated the idea of being undercooked for the rest of the season
We'll beat you and you'll beat us in years to come, but thank God it won't be 8th v 9th or something!!

No one in their right mind is spending £50m+ on a new stadium when you can probably subsidise the club for 100+ years for the same amount

For starters I'd be offering the SMC a sweetener of some nice new IMG spec TVs in exchange for rent terms. The TVs aren't far off being 10 years old and likely need renewal soon anyway.

Liking that both Cartwright and Thirkhill seem straight to the point talkers

Pearson not unduly worried about the stadium lease. On good terms with the SMC and Council.

Fully agree that this has been overlooked. The stadium is too big but I'd argue that the lack of atmosphere is mainly due to how terrible we have been in recent years. 14/15k could easily be achieved if we seriously start challenging for trophies. That's a long way off and we all need to be patient.

Look at Rovers. The atmosphere is good because they've come a long way from the years in the doldrums and are now near the top. It's a whole new experience for most of their supporters. Not so long ago they had crowds of 5/6k and the atmosphere was terrible. And the stadium still is.

Enjoyed that, all the panel spoke well. Good questions in the main too.

I thought it was good but you do get some idiots like the guy asking what the first choice 17 would be.

Pearson saying what I did about the stadium. We ain't getting our own, not even a consideration

Good to hear thirkill is a RL man through and through watching games back to the 80's

Hosted more professionally as well. Unlike the one's in the past for one obvious reason.

He’s a good bloke is Steady had a few beers with him in Catalans

I can't quite believe the difference a few months can make.

My hopes and expectation for the club tonight against that of 6 months ago...

Not sure I completely bought the sequencing story of Myler's appointment vs Thirkhill's interest, but was a pretty good forum.

Great to hear we'll quickly reclaim an A grade, and thought Cartwright came across very well - mature, experienced and got the sense his clarity of direction and expectation with the players will be light years ahead of Tony Smith's.