Tony Stewart talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
I write this the day after we secured our Championship status for the 2016/2017 campaign, following the point we needed to achieve safety without relying on any other club's results, and taking care of the job in hand ourselves.
I wanted to publicly place on record my thanks for the job that Neil Warnock, and his support staff, have done since arriving at the Club in February. We weren't in a great position at that time and it was certainly a challenging task to turn around our fortunes and steer us clear of the bottom three but, nevertheless, nobody at the Club had given up and that task has now been done and dusted with two games to go - a quite remarkable achievement.
Huge praise has to be given to everyone involved including the manager, everyone involved in the 'on the pitch' side of the Club and not to mention the players who have shown terrific commitment, work rate and togetherness that makes me proud beyond belief of every single one of them. They have shown what they are made of as individuals, as a team and represented this Club with outstanding pride - a Chairman can never ask for more than that.
It is worth noting the 'off the pitch' team too who work tirelessly to support everything we strive to achieve. We are a close knit group who go that extra mile to get the job done. We have a strong 'club culture' throughout and what I mean by that is we are respectful and understanding of everybody else's pressures and look to support each other through those times. That creates unity and unity is what you need to dig deep and achieve what has been achieved this season.
Last but by no means least, you - the supporters, home and away we've been in it together whether we sit in the Directors' Box, corporate hospitality areas or in the stands, we kick and head every ball together and we share the same emotions - we are as one.
The last home game of the season on Saturday against Blackburn Rovers gives us an opportunity to give this current campaign a good send off. Why not make this 'Millers Day' amongst us? Make it colourful and represent our red and white Club colours with pride. We should also reach out and connect to someone that maybe hasn’t been for a while, maybe someone that hasn’t been at all, who knows but connect with them and bring them with you. We have been working on continually growing our fan base over the last four seasons and the quicker we can do that the more reason it gives me to dust off the stadium expansion, plans which will help generate more revenue that will always cascade into the player budget.
Season Tickets are on sale now for the 2016/2017 season and sales are very encouraging, we're already through the 6,000 mark.
Finally, and again, thanks to all involved in what has been a truly remarkable achievement, this Rotherham is truly UNITED.
See you all on Saturday.
Tony
Championship season tickets remain on sale online at www.rotherhamunitedshop.co.uk and in store at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
The Red & White Shop sale also continues with 50% off replica shirts amongst a host of other reductions online at www.rotherhamunitedshop.co.uk and in store.