Denis on DeeDar - the interview..

Last updated : 23 March 2007 By Bigrich.....

Denis talks about the Millers manager shortlist.. "Mark Robins is on that short list, we're keeping a close eye on him, we talk to him every day, he's very easy to work with, and in one way or another, Mark will be at the club next year. If Mark was the man for the job, we would want an experienced man alongside him."

"The shortlist of serious people on the list at the moment is about 8 or 9 people. There's all sorts of people in there, we had an application in yesterday, a foreign manager, who has managed at international level, for three countries, he's been head coach for a country at two World Cups."

"We've got a company working on all these managers doing profiles on them, we're not rushing. This could be the most important appointment in our history so we've got to do it right."

"Interviews will probably start late next week and we'll take it from there, we're waiting on the profiles from the company. Everybodys cv's has come in and they all look good but we're waiting on this company doing background research on people."

"We'll probably do something before the end of the season but we're still in there with a shout of staying up so we have to we've got to look at that and concentrate on that."

Denis was bluntly asked wether or not he would have sacked any of the players after their 'performances' over recent weeks, obviously Denis was cautious with is reply….

"You look at the lads that played last week, they gave their everything and that's all we can ask off them. Some weeks, (and I feel it just as much as the rest of the supporters) they go out there and they don't give their all, you just feel like kicking their arse. But unfortunately they're under contract your stuck with what you've got aren't you?" he said.

He then went on to speak about the farce at Northampton, "When you lose you just want to get away and go home, that's one thing I've found hard this year. I've got to go back into the boardroom and take peoples apologies for being crap or whatever, at Northampton I didn't even go back in, I left. I know that may seem a bit mardy on my behalf, but I couldn't bare going back in and facing people."

Giles Brearley was asked about the situation regarding the grounds that are used by the club, namely Millmoor and the Hooton Lodge training ground.

"As far as the ground is concerned we can't discussed that in too much detail because its with the lawyers, but the we've had meetings with them and we're very happy with developments so far, all I can say is watch this space.
Millmoor and the training ground are being viewed as one at the moment."

"We've got to take the lawyers advice but what we're told we're very happy with. I'd love to give you reassurance that it would be resolved by the end of the season but unfortunately we're in the courts hands and I suspect it will probably drag on past the end of the season." Giles added.

"It's complicated and we have to be careful what we say as its in the hands of the lawyers, but we should in the next 4 to 6 weeks we should hopefully have some more news. No court date has been set as yet but proceedings have been issued and the landlords have to respond to that and that's what we're waiting for." Denis added.

Giles was also asked wether the money from the Hoskins & Williamson transfer was enough to tide us over, "I think I can answer that with confidence, the amount was over-reported because it included VAT so we actually got a little bit less than that, we've had to use some of that on stuff that's cropped up like the postponed Swansea game. But generally speaking we're using the funds very constructively and we're hoping that we'll be in a very good position to start next season."

Denis was asked about the prices for next seasons season tickets, and the caller thought they should put them down.

"Its something that we're going to be discussing at the next board meeting but they're a necessity. With the crowds we get, if we could get double we could almost halve the price but we just don't get the crowds in." was Denis's reply.

"I've never mentioned that we're going to put the season ticket prices up for next season, they had to go up this season. What a lot of fans don't realise it that 17.5% VAT comes off that and doesn't even come into the club. That's point one."

"Point two is that when we come into this club 12 months ago I made a promise to the fans that I would work and give up my business for 12 months and work free of charge. I don't make a penny out of this so either people get behind the club and keep a club in Rotherham or they don't. If they don't there's nothing I can do about it."

"I never said I was coming in with millions of pounds to throw at it, I said I'd give my time and business up for a year and work for nothing. Now I'm willing to commit another year of my time for nothing, so its up to the rest of the people if they want to get behind it, if they don't there's nothing I can do about it." He added.

Denis & Giles was asked wether or not there was any major investors looking at Rotherham…

"There are one or two investors on the horizon, I think this is so important that we get the ground situation sorted out because that is what will lead us into further investors." Dennis said..

"We've had discussions with several interested parties, but the ground problems keep coming up, and that's a big problem. And we need to resolve that." Giles said.

"I think if we can steer the club into a break even situation and sort out the ground situation the club will become very attractive." He added.

Denis then had a little pop at the supporters of other clubs who live in Rotherham, "It's annoying with people of Rotherham going to watch the Sheffield clubs, I've got nothing against the Sheffield clubs but let people from Sheffield support them, people from Rotherham they should get down to Millmoor and support Rotherham."

"The Council have been very supportive since we've come in, and they were in talks with the ground. However I'd like to scotch the rumours that a deal was done, that's complete rubbish there was no deal done, that was just rumours as usual. But obviously they've had to step back now because of the legal reasons."

"But they have promised us, whichever way the case goes, they will come back in and try and help us after its sorted."

"It all depends on how the case finishes as to what we do, theres options to do Millmoor up or we will always look at moving away from Millmoor if that's what it comes to but preferably we would like to stay at Millmoor." Denis finished with.

Thanks to Hodgey for helping to type up.