Rovers fans in boycott call

12:42pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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DISGRUNTLED Bromsgrove Rovers supporters may consider boycotting matches as part of their plan to complete a buy-out of the club.

Five former directors - Phil Baker, Paul Cumming, Geoff Bayley, David Stephens and Paul Wilkes - were revealed this week as the figureheads of a fans' consortium aiming to buy the club from chairman Tom Herbert.

"The people in this room are the club’s customers. Any business that doesn’t listen to its customers doesn’t succeed."

Paul Cumming - former Bromsgrove Rovers director.

A meeting, attended by more than 100 people, was held at the DDS and S Club in Stourbridge Road on Thursday in an attempt to gauge the feeling of supporters about the long-term future of the Southern League Midlands One outfit.

Bayley revealed the group had been together for 18 months, and planned to work with the Bromsgrove Rovers Supporters Society to return the club to the community, while ensuring it would not be under the control of one single person.

The group said an offer had already been tabled for the club with the support of some mystery backers, but they would not divulge any figures or their identities.

Those in attendance were asked whether they would consider taking part in a proposed boycott.

A show of hands revealed that opinion was divided, but Mr Cumming said that voting with their feet would put pressure on the club's current regime.

"The people in this room are the club's customers," he said.

"Any business that doesn't listen to its customers doesn't succeed.

"If we boycott the pre-season friendlies we will starve the club of cash."

During the meeting Mr Cumming also claimed the club had debts of £59,000 and the wage bill had been halved in the 2006/07 promotion-winning season.

Mr Bayley added: "The objective this group came together with 18 months ago was that we were concerned with the way the club was going.

"This is not a knee-jerk reaction to a poor playing season.

"We believe the club could be and should be playing at a higher level.

"We see no reason why the club couldn't play football at Blue Square regional (North or South) level."

Fans were also given the opportunity to question the group about their proposals.

One supporter called for another meeting to be held for those interested in investing in the club.

Following the meeting, the Advertiser/Messenger spoke to Mr Herbert but he did not wish to make any comment. Mr Herbert had been invited to the meeting but did not attend.