DONCASTER Rovers chairman John Ryan took time out from celebrating the club's long-awaited promotion to the Championship to offer hope to struggling clubs.
"I think that we are a beacon for a lot of smaller clubs who want to become bigger," said the man who has transformed Rovers from a laughing stock into one of the Football League's rising stars in a decade at the helm.
"No club has ever been so low as Rovers were when I took it over ten years ago," claimed the charismatic businessman.
"Any club, such as Halifax Town, which is going through a rough time either now or in the future will think that if Doncaster Rovers can do it then we can do it as well."
Turning his thoughts to next season again, Ryan said:"I am really
hoping that the Keepmoat Stadium will be full for every game next season.
"Particularly as we have derby games against the two Sheffield clubs and Barnsley, plus the likes of Nottingham Forest and Derby."
"I can't wait for the fixtures lists to come out next month to see who we play and when."
Like the other directors, Ryan is confident that Rovers will hold their own in the second tier of English football without having to make wholesale changes to the squad.
"We probably need to add one or two players, but the majority of the players can play at Championship level," he argued.
"Vice-chairman Dick Watson and myself will be sitting down with manager in the next few days and discussing what he wants," he said.
With players finishing the season three weeks later than usual, the club have put back the start of pre-season a week and the players will now report back on July 7.
Among the warm-up matches provisionally arranged are home games against Premiership sides Newcastle and Bolton.
Managing director Stuart Highfield urged fans to buy their season tickets before June 14 - the extended cut-off date for discounted tickets - in order to guarantee their seat at all the big games next season.
He said that the club had no regrets at deciding to hold season-ticket prices at last season's level even though the club had been promoted.
The Rovers official, who attended last night's civic reception at the Mansion House, denied reports of players being spat at by Leeds fans as they made their way to Royal box for the trophy presentation.
"One or two Leeds fans gave them a bit of lip, but that is to be expected," said Highfield.
"But I didn't see anyone spitting at the players and the players themselves didn't report any incident of that nature.
"To be honest, we have to praise the Leeds followers because they behaved impeccably and give their team great support."
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