By Oscar Wilde
February 15 2006

Rotherham United could be out of business within weeks, now is the time to pull together as the 'Save Our Millers' scheme gets underway The top and bottom of it is that unless the club finds £1 million to stay afloat for the rest of the season it will cease trading for good

The bigger picture is in fact that the club need an additional £1 million to achieve full viability for the next campaign. Several issues are being blamed for as to why this has happened. The ongoing saga with Jamal Campbell-Ryce money, poor crowds at Millmoor, the disappointing response to the recent rights issue and a major decline in commercial income. The club is now currently being advised by Matthew Dunham of BDO and Mark Hovell of George Davies, as losses of more than 140k a month are reported.

 

Fans are being pleaded with to dig very deep indeed and give their all to save Rotherham United. Chairman Peter Ruchneiwicz told the official website: "We are being advised by licenced insolvency Practitioners and are in consulatation with the league on a regualr basis. We realise how difficult this must be for everyone concerned with the Millers, but without in any way playing down the seriousness of the situation, we sicerely believe there is a good chance we can save the club providing anyone with some sort of link with the club gets behind us.

 

"We the board have already contributed substantial personal funds and are continuing to work very hard on a number of initiatives including approaching potential investors. Indeed we are prepared to transfer with no personal payment our controlling interest to people of substance who could put the necessary investment into the club."

 

The club are discussing the players future with the PFA and are trying to negotiate the length of trading time with major creditors. Rotherham United Supporters Trust have put out a rallying call to all supporters, Eleceted board member from the trust Lee Rowbotham said: "We are calling all RUST members to help the club - in any way they can. No two ways about it, we have got to support the football club to ensure its survival."

 

Finally, the club has set up the 'Save Our Millers' campaign, with the '£10 to play again' and '£25 to stay alive' schemes.

 

Fans wishing to donate to the survival of Rotherham United should either:

 

Call the Campaign Hotline at Millmoor on 01709 512434

 

Make cheques payable to RUST and post them to the club directly

 

Donate online via PayPal OR No-Chex, the account to send money to is shop@rufctrust.co.uk

 

Rotherham United Supporters Trust Website