RUFC - Stewart 'aiming for Championship'

Rotherham United Chairman, Tony Stewart has told RotherFM that his aim is for Rotherham United to be in the Championship within the next four or five years.

He said that, after hearing from the Football League at 6.30 last night, he feels like he has been released. 'I knew we would be getting a deduction,' Mr Stewart said, 'and I thought we were looking at minus twenty. But, now we know what it is we can start to move forward.

'We have to look at the good season Rotherham United had last season when two thirds of the way through the season they got a minus ten penalty. I believe that if they hadn't got that penalty then they would have been in the play-offs or even higher.

'I took over the club when it was at rock bottom and the Administrator told me that I was the only punter who could take over Rotherham United and it was a big task. I looked at Millmoor and then at Don Valley - the last three months have been traumatic. I told the Football League that it was as though a shining knight had come in on a white horse and the first thing they did was shoot the bloody horse! I know the League have a difficult job to do and this was a situation I had never been in before and I had no knowledge of how to prepare for it. It was a new challenge. But everyone at my firm and the club gave me 110% support.

'The future is looking good and consent has been given for us to play at Don Valley and in four years time there will be a new stadium. I've seen the plans it's not make believe it's reality. I've been in meetings and it is going to happen.

'I've supported the manager and invested in new players and there are more on the way. Mark Robins has talked to the team and they are all up for it and we have to play every game like it's a Cup Final. I'm ambitious, the Manager is ambitious and the club is ambitious and our aim is for a new ground and to be in the Championship by 2012.

'And, if the supporters rally round then we know we can do this. I ask them to come and look at the team - we've made changes and there is a mixture of Youth and talent and the football is getting better and better. Come and try us - come and cheer us. Let's develop this club and let's see what Rotherham United can do for the town and let's make Rotherham United a team to be proud of.'

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