TWO TEAMS IN BRISTOL -EVIL POST ADVERT

Good business practice, we should have done something similar in 2007,but blew it.
Indicative of how our club was run then, and continues to be run today.
Rod.

Let's not turn this into otib and be obsessed with them.

Try doing what I do then, don't buy The Post and then anything that they print won't trouble you.

I cherry-pick my stories by reading the Post on-line, that's quite enough for me.  

Our problem is us not the Evening Post or Bristol City.

We are 2 divisions below City and they are currently cruising into the Championship having won a trophy at Wembley while we are currently a non-league team.  Sorry, we just have to take our medicine here.  We haven't played City in the league for 14 years for crying out loud - we are not equal rivals anymore.  It might hurt but it is the reality.

All City have done is take out an advert the day after they've had a big day out at Wembley advertising season tickets for next season and their relationship with the Rugby Club.  That seems very sensible on their part and why on earth should the Evening Post turn down that money? If anything it highlights our failure to do similar after our 2007 success and also our failure to build a good relationship with the Rugby club over the 15 years we shared a stadium.

This has nothing to do with us.  The problem is not that we are having our noses rubbed in it, that would be fine I would welcome an advert that had a picture of Wembley and 'are watching at the Mem....' - the problem is far worse than that, it is that we are a non-league side and pretty irrelevant.  City have just won a competition we weren't even good enough to enter this year - think about that.  I think we're quite lucky to retain the profile we do actually.  Many clubs see their local press profile decimated after relegation to the Conference.  If you want to be angry then be angry at how far we have declined not at City doing what you'd expect them to do and the Evening Post printing an advert for a local business and a glossy pull out of a big sporting day out which they've done for every club for as long as I can remember because they are in the business of selling Newspapers and it is an easy sell. Rovers are not owed respect by anyone - we have to earn it and over the last 5 years we have not come remotely close to doing so.

Guys, relax for goodness sake.

We have Barry in charge of retail etc, I'm sure he's got a massive campaigne organised and is ready to push the button any moment now.

Well, I say any moment now, of course he has to spend a few more months discussing getting 6 T-shirts into PL, but as soon as that's done, and he's had a well earned summer break, I'm sure he'll be straight on it.

I quite agree Irish the problem is certainly us, but why do we continue to take it lying down ?  (not in the way you are thinking Faustus   )

This is a challenge which someone like Doug Shields should relish. We need a PR strategy to give hope to our existing fan base and to persuade new fans to choose us instead of the alternatives. In the next three months we have to manage the way we present the outcome of our football season and the outcome of the Sainsburys case so that, whatever happens, we are ready with a positive vision for our people.  Winners have their strategies in place and unveil the appropriate ones at the appropriate times to make sure the message they want to get across is heard loud and clear. Only losers "wait to see what happens".

When the announcement about the new PR advisor was made it gave a faint glimmer of hope but increasingly it looks as though Doug is just another willing volunteer. When you think about it how can he possibly devote enough time to Rovers when he has just started a new business along with his partners at GingerComms in London. What would Harriet and James Scott think if he was neglecting their new venture to help out at Rovers ?  But these are serious people and they have the qualities which could help inspire a serious fightback against Bristol City if we take the relationship with them seriously. If I was Nick Higgs I should take 30 000 out of the MSP Capital money to pay GingerComms to get us through the next three months and, whatever the outcome of the battles ahead, make sure we are smiling at the end of it.

The Evil Post, a poor newspaper with journalists who are steadily getting worse. I never buy and read it, but, out of interest, I got the on-line site up this morning to look at the review for The Stereophonics gig on Saturday night. The reviewer got the gig spot on so at least someone is doing a good job down there.
As for Rovers and PR, they completely missed the boat years ago. No one else to blame for our predicament than those that inhabit Box 1. Why the hell did'nt they react when the Sh*te were at a sh*te ebb, when we were in the ascendency and were in a position to reach out to new supporters. Why the hell did'nt they erect immovable bridges with their tenants, along the lines of the old 'Athletics' clubs, why the hell did'nt they build lines of communication with people of wealth and influence outside of their small cabale, why the hell did'nt they seek help from people within our ranks who would gladly have given to our cause??? I could go on. Is / was it all to do with money and making sure only the grubby fingered few could be involved? Will we ever know? Anyway, UTG, come on Darryll, finish the job off!!

How do you know he has not ?

He may of taken £60,000 out for we know 

Apart from the weekly coverage they give us, or the coverage when we won the play-offs etc, etc