Cheques debate hits the airwaves.

As just about everyone is aware, last Friday the club asked for any cheques for the Save The Millers campaign to be made out to Rotherham United and not RUST which they were previously.

Following this there were a couple of press statements from both partys and today Radio Sheffield have spoke to them both.

Antonia Brickell

On this mornings breakfast show, Antonia Brickell spoke to acting RUST Chairman Mark Thomas stated why the trust made the statement.

"We'd heard from a lot of fans that they were concerned that if cheques were simply going to Rotherham United Football Club, they the fans would not be sure as to how those cheques were being used."

"Our expression of concern was made because we felt it necessary to draw the clubs attention to the fact that the fans were concerned. And the club had not actually explained why it had this change of policy of who the cheques were payable to."

During the day, club Chairman Peter Ruchniewicz was also interviewed by Radio Sheffield. Asked why the club wanted the donations direct, Ruchniewicz said "The bottom line is that we have a number of expenses going forward, the reason why that we needed the money now, sooner than earlier was indeed the fact that we anticipated that we would be able to put in place a deferrment agreement with the players for the month of Febuary, however there wasnt time to conclude that agreement therefore the players were paid in full for Febuary which put added cashflow pressure going into March."

Antonia Brickell also asked if the money would be returned if the club wasnt saved. "If people have made the donation on that basis then we would do that. But the money given to us so far is given unconditionally! Its been given to us by people in collections saying here's a collection and give you unconditionally."

"The fact of the matter is when you get to this situations the fans want to help, everybody wants to help and you have to put your hand in your pocket and keep the club going and prolong the life of the club until the solution emerges." Peter answered.

It sounds as though the supporters dont actually trust you to run the club or the money? was Antonias next question to the Chairman. "Well it sounds from that statement that they dont. But no supporters have told me that, and why should they? what would be in it for us to do otherwise?"

Thursday see's a series of meetings for the Club, a meeting with RUST and at the evening the clubs AGM. Ruchniewicz hoped that this debate can be sorted out.

"I hope it can be, its taken us completely by suprise. We were expecting the outcome of the RUST meeting. When we requested the money a point was made to us which in our view is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of position. We put our point to them and asked thier board to consider it. I thought they come back as we knew this meeting was set-up for tomorrow and were discussing it, and yet then we are confronted by this statement, my heart sank when I saw that, for goodness sake we're all on the same side."

"You could get the grotesque situation here where the club might fold and there's £50,000 in a bank account and the liquidators will have it."

RUST have organised 2 meetings over the next fortnight to discuss the use of funds by RUST, the fundraising and the future of RUFC.

The first is next Wednesday evening which is open to all fans, while the second - a week later is a RUST Special General Meeting which will be open to RUST members only.

The meetings are both at MAGNA - Templeborough and start at 7:30pm.
Fans are urged to join RUST during the first meeting as entry to the SGM is by invitation only.