John Ryan in the Yorkshire Post

[The Red Baron]

He seems one hacked-off hombre!

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/Exclusive-Ryan-fears-fans-might.6612696.jp

I can empathise with a lot of what he says. However, he sounds like he's falling out of love with football. Let's hope this isn't a prelude to him stepping down from Rovers.

[The L J Monk]

Fair to say we won't be looking to sign Rooney anytime soon then.

[CusworthRovers]

Let's hope no refs read this paper, and we might just get away with it.

[River Don]

Well, I can see his point on finances.

I strongly disagree on video technology, it is a recipe for delays, halts, debate and threatens to fundamentally undermine the wonderful flowing nature of football.

Are we going to stop the game and go to the 4th official for every transgression or contested decision? Every ball going out on the touch line?

For me if it can be made to work properly, a microchipped ball that alerts the officials to when it has crossed the line would be worthwhile. But video technology. No way.

[silent majority]

River Don wrote:

Well, I can see his point on finances.



For me if it can be made to work properly, a microchipped ball that alerts the officials to when it has crossed the line would be worthwhile. But video technology. No way.

RD, in 2006 I visited Nuremberg FC prior to the World Cup on an FA jaunt to promote various supporter bits and bobs. Whilst I was there Adidas were using the stadium to test out their technology which was microchips inside the football itself. Well it looked quite impressive but we didn't realise at the time what they were doing. So when a stray ball made its way over to use we decided to hang on to it! Furious is the word that comes to mind!

I gather FIFA and UEFA have ruled out this technology now though because of unreliability issues.

[Keith Myath]

I usually read JR's interview with a bit of embarassement, bit like when your 12 and your Dad has just taken to the dance floor at a wedding after 8 pints of Guiness.

But to be honest i like the way he speaks out and although i dont agree with everything, he is one one of the few passionate chairmen still in the game who want to make sure football has a future.

Sadly theres too few chairman about that actually have the club they own at heart, and thats another reason why i love the club i do.

[neil grainger]

Agree totally with you Keith.

I reckon Mr Ryan has earned the right to an occasional rant. Most of what he says comes from the heart and there's nowt wrong with that in my opinion.

[BRMC_rover]

River Don wrote:

Well, I can see his point on finances.

I strongly disagree on video technology, it is a recipe for delays, halts, debate and threatens to fundamentally undermine the wonderful flowing nature of football.

Are we going to stop the game and go to the 4th official for every transgression or contested decision? Every ball going out on the touch line?

For me if it can be made to work properly, a microchipped ball that alerts the officials to when it has crossed the line would be worthwhile. But video technology. No way.

I only agree with the use of goal line technology only. On a strict basis, otherwise, yes, it'd be a recipe for delays, but goal line technology would assist in the most important factor, whether or not a legitimate goal was scored. Referee's have no real idea in the most dubious of 'goals', so its fair to have something that clearly shows yay or nay. Linesman are responsible for judging off sides and we need to accept that human error can sometimes occur but this current form of decision allows for the continued flow of the football match.

[bedale rover]

B) it strikes me that this is like the nuclear arms race of days gone by

everyone trying to get the biggest name (weapon) they can and spending money they dont have so that the smallest poorest clubs (countries) dont have a chance to join the party

so what we (football) needs is men with vision and selflessness who will put the health of football (the world) in front of their own needs

a simon de montfort if you like

and then create a nuclear (overspending) non proliferation treaty so that money is spent on the many where it needs to be spent rather than on the  few  

well i can dream cant i

[timdrfc]

You couldn't blame him  after what hes put into the club and the dire attendence figures, moaners on here etc   who seem happy when it's someone else spending their money!

Lets hope not

[benaldo]

I think we all know (and occasionally fear) JR's rants in the press, but I've got to say in this case he's spot on in my opinion.

Unfirtunately I detect a hint of resignation from him that the \"rose tinted days\" at rovers are coming to an end as we are not a bottomless money pit.

Thing is though, I think JR still feels we \"owe it\" to the club/him to have the stadium rammed every match. I think he forgets that the crowds were pathetic when he took over and all additional fans since those days don't owe JR anything. Sad but true.

[London_Rover]

The man speaks a lot of sense.  It is a good article.

I wholeheartedly agree with what he says about Rooney's pay rise and the FA and Portsmouth etc.

I would 'disagree' with him on two points though.  One is video technology.  I am not convinced about it - unless it is just goal-line technology.  The second is that I don't think that bad referees affect smaller clubs only.  I think shoddy refereeing is just bad for the game generally.

I do think that football is a murky world but with lots of crap written about it too.  The problem is when you come from a town that hosts the best team in the world you can't help but love the game!

I am sure if I lived in a town like Scunthorpe or Sheffield, I just wouldn't bother with it...

[DRFCTom]

\"It is not as if he has done a lot for Manchester United and England of late and it does nothing for the working fans in these times of recession to see him take a club for all he can get while the rest of us tighten our belts.\"


I couldn't agree with that anymore  :dry:

[benaldo]

Not sure how many holes JR, as a multi millionaire, needs to put into his belt compared to the rest of us, but I get his point.