RUFC - Stewart 'I'm not frightened'

Rotherham United Chairman, Tony Stewart says that he has enjoyed his twelve months in charge of the club and told David Beddows of The Advertiser that things are on track to drive the club towards his ultimate goal of the Championship.

In his first year with the club he has had to guide them through administration, take-on the Football League, settle them into a new playing stadium and training ground and move the offices into his own business. Despite all this, Mr Stewart is still enthusiastic.

'I meet football directors up and down the country and you can see the years of worry etched on their faces,' Mr Stewart said. 'They look worn down by the job of helping their football club. But I don't think it has to be like that. In the past twelve months I have seen a lot and learned a lot but I haven't learned everything. The challenges here don't frighten me and the philosophy is quite simple.

'Fans come to see a good side and we want a good Rotherham United side to be playing in the Championship in three years' time. And, we don't want people to have to catch a bus to Sheffield to see it. We need to get the community spirit back in the club, in the town and in a stadium the supporters can be proud of. There's still a lot of work to do but we are working hard to get as professional a look off the pitch as there is on it.

'We have dreams to meet the same level as Doncaster Rovers - eight years ago they were playing in front of 1,200 fans in the Conference and now they are getting crowds of 10,000 in the Championship in a smart 15,000 capacity ground.'

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