You've got the wrong man, Tatty. It was Rob Nash who was wanting answers from Geoff.

I think we could be relying on other results going our way over the last few rounds to get in the play-offs. I can't see us beating Barrow or Workington. Coventry won't be a gimme, and Keighley at home in the last match won't be easy.

Unless we find some form, it's hard to see us being competitve in the play-offs anyway.

I suspect the club would say Covid and injuries have derailed us; that may be true but we've not plugged the gaps well enough either.

To be clear AGAIN. I'm not at all happy about the signing of our full back. My opinion on this is clear. What I'm more bothered about is the appalling decline in our line defence and our ball control. This, to me, seems to be down to a total lack of confidence. I don't know how else to explain it. This set of players is more than capable.

It is a sad sorry state of affairs .

We hear very little from the club , something has got to change .

We have some tough games albeit at home . Confidence seems to be a big problem .

We are now 4th , will the club make an effort to re arrange the North Wales game which is also at home ?

To be fair, Rob, I think our defence has been dodgy all season even when we were winning at the start of the season. There seems to be something lacking with the organisation as we don't number up properly and have conceded some very soft tries. There was one occasion against Hunslet when they had 6 to 3 on our right edge. Hunslet cocked up and failed to score but that was beside the point.

On paper, we do seem to have a strong group of players. This season's signings seemed to add something extra and we looked as though we could possibly be in with a chance of going up. I think we've been missing a full back who can get us organised. I don't think Ben Johnson is a full-back. He is much better in the halves. I thought we'd got a lad called Ricketts who could play full-back but he seems to have been self-isolating all season as he's never had a look in... unless he's left the club and we've not been told.

Listening to the Radio Manchester commentary today, they said we responded well after conceding early but two yellow cards didn't help. They thought Peltier should have got a red for punching just before half time. Cockayne was sin-binned for a deliberate obstruction apparently mid way through the second half.

I do understand what you're saying though, Rob, collectively we certainly don't seem to be playing anywhere near the potential our individual skills suggest we should.

When things aren't going well, a club and its fans need to work together to help get things back on track. The link between the club and the fans seems non-existent. This isn't something that has just happened this season. Things have been awful for some time.

There has been no communication regarding the N Wales game - which is poor. We don't know which players are still at the club. Fans deserve better and if this isn't addressed, I believe many die hards will give up. The club needs to realise it's not only what you do on the pitch that influences fans' loyalty; having good communication matters and if you want fans to care about the club, you must care about the fans.

The coach has no relationship with the supporters and I don't think that helps either.

Sorry about that DM.
The following is a headline in an article from the free press on the Doncaster Rovers News Now web site.
"Dons in free fall and in danger of emulating Doncaster Rovers' collapse"
The article refers to Club Doncaster whose commitment I believe has to be questioned just like I said in my post several days ago.
I suppose one might say that covid has ruined the finances of many clubs but other clubs both in rugby and football have invested in their squads. Lets also not forget that Doncaster got nearly £1.75 million for their midfield player Whiteman earlier in the year and not many other clubs raked in that sort of money.
So it's about time those at the top come clean on just what they want for the Dons and Rovers.
All I can say is thank god Doncaster Knights didn't join this charlatan organisation when they were being chased to do so.

I had originally planned to post my thoughts at the end of the season but reading other supporters views on Facebook and RLFans has prompted me to air my feelings now.

I first watched the Dons at Tattersfield in the 70’s and by the early 80’s was hooked and a regular home & away. This season will be my last. I have already confided in those close to me and one or two fellow supporters that I won’t be renewing my season ticket next season.

There are factors both on and off the pitch which have influenced this decision.

On the pitch ...

I have not played rugby league since I was at school and have a lot of respect for the players who play the game, especially those who play at levels where the rewards, financial or otherwise are minimal. I have no axe to grind with individual players.

At the start of this season we once again had a squad which looked capable of being in the top 3 or 4 in League One. That in itself begs a question. Why, following the 2017 announcement of the 5 year plan do we once again find that not only are we not pushing for automatic promotion with a squad fully capable of achieving it, but are clinging on to a play off spot as even more difficult fixtures loom on the horizon? Does Club Doncaster back the Coach sufficiently financially? If they believe they have done, then the return on that investment is simply not good enough. If they haven’t, then they are reaping what they have sown. We are now failing to beat teams who will never play above this level of rugby league and player availability cannot be used as an excuse as all clubs are having issues. For a club which boasts ambition that also simply isn’t good enough, but I can’t help feeling that in truth there isn’t really the ambition to play in the Championship. Personally, I no longer enjoy what I am witnessing.

But worse still ... Off the pitch ...

Many people have commented about the disconnect between ‘the Club’ and the supporters. I feel that almost understates the situation and wholeheartedly agree with one particular comment that ‘the us and them is bordering on toxic’ and concur that there appears to be no ambition to resolve this.

Communication is only marginally better than non-existent and the content insubstantial. Worse still, the way the moving of a fixture to Castleford was handled looked nothing short of underhand with the venue changed on the fixture list but no official announcement until after a backlash from the fanbase.

The Club has recently deemed it appropriate to restructure the Fans Forum Meetings. These are now Meetings between Club representatives and an Advisory Group, the Club’s chosen title. My own view was that supporters weren’t getting as much out of these Meetings as I think they should but reading recent public comments from the two recently appointed Vice Chairs, one about hitting brick walls with questions, this change doesn’t appear to be for the better and could be perceived as no more than a box-ticking exercise. This change it seems was also intended to allow the CEO to take a step back from chairing these meetings.

Whilst on the subject of these Meetings, on 20 May 2021 the Club issued to potential attendees a document concerning being an ‘Independent Member of Advisory Group’. This document lists the duties and responsibilities of being a member. One of these responsibilities is ‘To understand and adhere to all policies implemented by Doncaster Rugby League Club and / or Club Doncaster group'. I have twice asked for these policies to review. Why would I agree to something without reading it and understanding it? The first time I received no response. The second time (20 July 2021), the response was that the request had been passed to Club Doncaster’s Finance Director. Still nothing! As a result I did not attend the last Meeting. I repeat, why would I agree to something without reading and understanding it? I wonder if anyone else has seen these policies? I know I am not alone in requesting them.

I have recently cancelled my standing order for Dons4Life, again, I am aware that I am not alone in this action. About 3 years ago questions began to be raised with the Club about this funding. Eventually, a meeting was called for July 2019. At that meeting it was stated that there would be transparency about what the funds were used for along with member draws, offers and discounts. I acknowledge that there is a page on the Club Website but beyond that there seems to have been little or no activity and certainly no communication with members.

There have been comments that the Club appear to have placed more importance on the World Cup fixtures than getting the Dons promoted. I couldn’t argue with those who have that point of view.

I hope that that the Club & CEO get to grips with supporter-raised issues and concerns. Should that be the case, great. Sadly, it will come too late for this particular poster.

Wanderer. Excellent summary of the situation felt by many. Regrettably the same issues have been raised over a number of years and still things haven't improved.

I don't get why the club is being so secretive with regards to players being injured, most of the players post on Twitter or Instagram like Watson and Misi who both look to be season long injuries as I assume is Hedges.

With no sign of Ricketts and Carter all season I'm sure some comment from the club would be appropriate given the ill feeling among the supporters.

I’m deeply saddened to hear Wanderer (Gary) has decided to call it a day.

I cancelled my Dons For Life standing order a couple of months back for the same reasons.

I stopped attending the Fans’ Forum meetings a couple of months ago too.

I believe communications with the fans have gone seriously downhill ever since Carl Hall’s In The Dugout ended. We got weekly updates on what was happening at the club at that time.

Even though the club has been made aware of the communication issues over and over again, they do nothing about it. They shouldn’t need fans to point these things out; they should be bread and butter issues that they’re on top of.

Moving the North Wales game away from the Keepmoat when the pitch was available (and the way the announcement was made) was an issue that has really made me question whether my heart is in it anymore. I’m teetering on the brink but just hanging in there by the skin of my teeth at the moment.

When life-long fans like Gary give up, very serious alarm bells ought to be ringing at the club.

Top Post Wanderer.

Difficult to visualise where the next points are going to come from, maybe a close one with Coventry. As for the other games it is hard to see a positive outcome at the moment. Very sad to see especially given the performance at North Wales, which seems a distant memory.

I believe its done so the opposition Coaches can't get an edge on us by knowing what ails a player. Here is a clue Mr Horne "It appears that ship may have set sail"

Mind games might work in the top flight - but sadly trying to use those at the Dons level is causing much more harm than good.

We will be lucky to make the playoffs if we do scrape in it will be more by luck than design and then it will be a short lived and disappointing adventure, some of the signings we made close season have been good others have yet to appear (if they ever will) and we clearly failed to address clear gaps in the squad (Full back). Our successes this year have largely been down to how excellent Matty Beharrel has been for us, we will be very lucky to keep hold of him.

With the season effectively over its time for a change - let Mr Horne return to Hull and lets get someone else in to try to finish the season with some good solid performances and hopefully build for next year.

Its so sad that long standing supporters are feeling the way they are, without supporters the game wont exist. I can though understand the sentiments.

I just have to say my piece.
Yes, I can acknowledge the frustration of us fans for the embarrassing defeats we’ve all experienced just lately. And whilst Carl Hall can try and patch us fans back up with a video.. but did it really need to come to that? The communication on Doncaster’s behalf through social media regarding player injuries/ fitness and anything regards Donny is lifeless. Other teams within this league communicate with their fans regardless if it’s to share inside knowledge I.e injuries for other teams info.

Anyway…
Because I say what I have to say, let me start by saying I appreciate every single player that puts on that shirt week in week out. As I know first hand how difficult it is at times to balance the lifestyle of a semi pro rugby player having to go to work then training not getting home till silly o’clock’s at night. Then not only that having to balance between family time to. It’s difficult to say the least. But the frustrating part for me is knowing them lads against west Wales was short changed.

I doubt Doncaster as a club will take the blame, instead the players will! They were late to the ground, leaving them less time to warm up. Then for those who had made the trip up there would have seen ten minutes into the game one of our key players got brought off Matt Beharell, why? He wasn’t injured?! You could see his frustration as to why he’d been brought off, when we wasn’t sitting comfortably within the score. Perhaps it would of been much more understanding if we were sitting comfortably in the score, and Horne perhaps wanted to trial the plays / team out for the following week with Matt having a 1 match ban. But to bring trialist into the squad last minute to due to the lack of numbers, and just because they’re from Leeds and Cas you want to take off one of our own for the likes of those? This is when we lose players! With stupid decisions made like this. Then to put Matt back on towards the end when Dons was getting back into the game and scoring again. But it was to little to late!

The defeat really was nothing short of embarrassing! But no fault of the players and I stick by that. The lads had there grub then back on the coach home, may I add with no STOP on the way home for the lads. Because the back room staff wouldn’t allow the coach to stop because of the defeat. Whilst the back room staff thought it would be highly amusing to have a drink or two on the way home like they’d won?! - I see that as nothing but disrespectful on so many levels! And I question the morals of the coaching staff.

Id be very surprised if come the end of the season we have kept any of our decent players left. It seems aswell that if your face doesn’t fit with the likes of Horne you don’t get int he starting 18. It’s been said Horne has his favourites, hence why we lost players mid way through the season. Then when covid hit us and injuries came in one of those players wanted to come back but Horne turned him down, sorry but was we in the right mind to turn down players when we need as many as possible who know the plays / moves already. Rather then having to bring in others from else where and try and make them gel as a team within a week. His choices baffle me!!

We’ve not once strengthened the team through this season like other teams who are pushing promotion have! You can’t expect to go all season with the team that we have when injuries / covid you HAVE to look else were too. I think the signing of Ben at fullback is a great signing but once again that’s short lived and only till the end of the season. But that allows Johnston to back into the halves with Matt. As they were just beginning to flow properly then it got ruined with the lack of players in positions.

The beginning of the season Horne had the opportunity to sign some very good players but once again Doncaster as a whole for some unknown reason didn’t get back in touch with them or left it to late for them players to sign else where. And some being in championship!! Once again this questions my thoughts on the back of house members and there vision for Doncaster as a whole to push for promotion.

We lack forwards we have Peltier who in my eyes would be in my starting 18 man squad week in week out. We always need to start by tiring the opposition out and for his size and the damage he does we need more players like him. Need big horrible things what are going to be nasty and be a battering ram. The team is what it seems is nothing but to soft and don’t seem to get stuck in enough when it comes to top teams within this league. I fear for the Barrow game I really do! But I’m hoping the lads come out all fired up because doesn’t seem like the coaching staff have it within them. Somethings clearly disconnecting between the two.

The passion and pride that some of the players have is enough to carry the team and get them through the nitty gritty games. You see that just through Matt when he’s trying to rally up the fans at home games! And that’s the type of passion Doncaster need from everybody right now more than ever!!!! Rant over