I know Baz, people think or believe I am a "negative nelly"

It wasnt a dig at you



Yes the club is poor at communication, the post match videos stopped dead, highlight have stopped but I suspect Rob was doing those off his own back and does it purely on an voulenteer and goodwill basis.

Re: The Championship, I am a firm believer that the top of League One is better than the bottom of the Championship. Even ourselves in recent years have beaten Batley and had very narrow defeats to Sheffield and Featherstone, all of whom are top half champ sides (or mid table at worst). Very rarely does a relegated team go straight back up to the Championship, (with the exception of Bradford who spent a bomb to do it) and very rarely does the promoted team come straight back (any return to League is often after a few years at least, as is the case again this year). The problem with the Championship is always keeping hold of the better players now they're in that shop window as well as the interest dwindling when teams start losing more than they win, season three always seems to be the tough one.

That's a good point, Jemmo.

Here's the list of ups and downs in recent years:

........ League 1 Up ...................... Champ Down
2015 =#0000FFOldham/Swinton.................. Dons/Hunslet
2016 =#FF0000Rochdale/Toulouse ............. Workington/Whitehaven
2017 Toronto/=#00FF00Barrow ................... =#0000FFOldham/Bradford
2018 York/Bradford..................... No relegation
2019 ............................................ =#00FF00Barrow/=#FF0000Rochdale

The Championship looks really tough next season though. There don't appear to be any obvious candidates for coming down. Assuming Toronto go up, the league would be made up of:

London, Toulouse, York, Leigh, Fev, Bradford, Sheffield, Halifax, Swinton, Batley, Widnes, Dewsbury, Whitehaven plus one other.

From past history, Swinton would look at risk but they finished 9th this season and seem to be improving. Dewsbury could have more money to spend with Bradford lodging with them. Widnes survived a 12 point deduction and would have finished 9th without it.

Maybe Batley are vulnerable? What about the Eagles?

With fewer obvious candidates for coming down, maybe the promoted sides will find it a little harder to stay up this time around?

What does everyone else think?

I think it's a point well made. Bottom half of Championship and top half of league one can compete.
Good point though Mike. Championship looks very tough next year. Obviously whoever goes up will strengthen. I'd back ourselves or Newcastle to be more capable of that than Oldham.
Anyway. Let's not put the cart before the horse.

P.S. I'd say Dewsbury, Batley and Swinton are the teams any promoted side should be looking at picking up points at

Steve I fully understand why you and your Dad no longer come down. Can you just refresh my recollection of having seen you at the Hunslet home game, yes or no. My reason for asking is that I recollect seeing a fair few fans who had not been down for a few years. The horror show that was the Hunslet home game had, IMO, the effect of reinforcing the absence. We never achieved that crowd figure again I believe.

Baz that is spot on, but that issue appears to symptomatic with the Club Doncaster approach to the media. They will let you know when you need to know. Slightly frustrating in this instant lets be knowing whats happening world, but I fully understand their approach and cannot see it relaxing anytime soon.

Agree with everything there Steve
Completely right about Facebook don't post on there now but do read it got my head chewed off once just for a point of view which you're apparently not allowed to have in some eyes

Case in point.

According to a post on the Dons fans Facebook page from the player himself Kieron Lawton has been released from the club. Is being loaned out to Cas classed as a release or has something else occurred that we are not party too?

I regularly raise issues such as this at the Fans Panel Meetings as I strongly believe not communicating properly with fans destroys the links between fans and the club. If fans don't feel valued, or important, they will be more inclined to walk away, and in many cases may never come back.

The club must do better.

Spot on.

I fully realise Mike that you take them to task over matters such as this, however it is my believe (rightly or wrongly) that Club Doncaster have a certain prerogative when it come to information. The leaking of information was certainly tightened up when John Ryan finally stood down and certain people left that had access to inside info and it helped fill column inches, say a Nosey Parker or two

We hardly ever hear from the re-branded SLO who is no Big Baz in any shape or form

apart from an odd post here and there on the Cleggbook.

I have no doubt that this last bit will be seen as having a go at the club but we must be kept up to speed on some issues for the very reasons you have eloquently highlighted.

If you want to know something ask Jemmo ...
Some of the Facebook lads seem to be a lot closer to the club and get to know things quicker and Facebook and Twitter have a lot more participants so any info spreads faster.

No thanks I will stay on this pariah forum. Jemmo will no doubt fill us in if he wants to.