Recap the highlights from ex-Doncaster Rovers chairman John Ryan’s giveaway and Q&A at Doncaster Dome
and live on Freeview channel 276
Ryan, who was Rovers’ chairman from 1998 to 2013, will be giving away season tickets to hard-up fans and worthy causes and holding what’s expected to be a no-holds-barred Q&A session.
Mr Ryan is on a personal mission to help his boyhood club Doncaster sell at least 5,000 season tickets for next term to give boss Grant McCann plenty of support from the terraces as the team embarks on a promotion push.
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LIVE: Former Doncaster Rovers chairman John Ryan holds Q&A and season ticket giveaway
Key Events
- Mr Ryan is raffling around 50 season tickets to supporters
- Ryan will hold a Q&A before the giveaway, it is expected
- Ryan is also holding another raffle to give fans the chance to win club memorabilia
Who was the best manager you appointed and the best player you signed?
‘Dave Penney was particularly good but I can’t look further than Sean O’Driscoll.
‘I took a private plane to Bournemouth and they absolutely smashed us 5-0.
‘The game where I felt the most pride - apart from the Southend game, which I call the Coppinger game - was our first game, in 2008, Derby County. They had just came down from the Championship and we played them off the park.’
Says some games last season made him ‘sick as a parrot’.
You and me both.
How is this budget compare with the likes of Wrexham and Notts County?
‘I would imagine we will be in the top tier. We won’t be as high as Wrexham or Notts County.
‘But it will be a very substantial budget and well capable of getting out of this league. Well capable.’
Says GM can get the best out of players ‘performing averagely’ using the example of Luke Molyneux.
‘If they perform averagely next season they won’t be in the team.’
‘If Rotherham can be there (the Championship) by God we can get there. We have got their best player.’
Ryan cont'd
‘We have got to change peoples perception. We used to be a big team, not long ago. We have got to get back to that.
‘We can get back to that.’
Do you see us getting back to the Championship?
‘Without doubt. We are going to be in League One and when you are in League One you have always got a chance.
‘First thing’s first, let’s get us get out of League Two. We do not belong in League Two.
‘I know they are working very hard to get things moving in the right direction, but it’s up to us fans to get behind the team.’
Ryan cont’d
‘It’s been my club for the last 66 years.
‘I don’t want to see the last period of my life watching the sort of poor football we have had to go through.
‘Never say never but you don’t know who the owners are going to be in the future.’
Is there any chance of you becoming a board member or involved in some capacity?
‘You have got to be invited on to the board. I haven’t been invited so that’s a non-starter.’
Says his involvement is in this giveaway.
Q&A up next
This could be interesting...
Peter Catt, the legendary former long-time Rovers’ correspondent, is asking the questions.