MX23RW : Sunday, October 6 01:06:33| >> :600:2218220:2218220:

Rotherham chairman bemoans Government tier system despite returning fans

Tony Stewart admits Monday's announcement by the Government might be "good news for a few and not for a lot".

Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart has welcomed the decision to allow a limited number of fans back into stadiums in lower-risk areas.

But Stewart feels the Government's plans for a return to a regionalised tier system from December 2 to combat the spread of coronavirus will be "good news for a few and not for a lot".

"When Rotherham was in tier three we were hitting the 500 people infected in 100,000 and we've come down about 50 per cent," Stewart told the PA news agency.

Rotherham are gearing for the return of supporters at New York Stadium
Rotherham are gearing for the return of supporters at New York Stadium (Nigel French/PA)

"So if you had to judge it today, I don't know if that's tier one or tier two, I don't know what category.

"It is good news, but it depends what tier we're in. It might be good news for a few and not for a lot."

Stewart said fans will be "doing backward somersaults" at the prospect of returning to watch matches and that the revenue for clubs could not come too soon.

"Some will be doing backwards somersaults and now there will be a nice fight to be one of the 2,000 or whatever it is we can get in there," he said.

"We'll have to create some form of lottery and prioritise our long-time season-ticket holders, that's what we're looking at now.

"We've been starved of funds. We're putting a show on, unlike the theatres, who haven't put a show on and have still been compensated.

"We've put a show on, no fans and not been compensated. Any club would welcome any revenue because it's not just about bums on seats.

"There's obviously programmes, hospitality and things like that and any revenue for any football club is a big deal."

Stewart, whose club were promoted back to the Sky Bet Championship last season, said getting fans back into the stadium would provide the community with a major boost.

"Match day is an occasion," he added. "It's not just a game, it's a gathering of people in the town. It lifts the town. You've got the restaurants, the cafes, the snack bars, etc.

"Match day gives everybody a lift. It's great for the town and we've all missed the heckle of fans in the stadium."

Harrogate, promoted to the English Football League for the first time in August, described Monday's announcement as "a bright day for supporters".

The club's managing director Garry Plant said: "We have a home match against Forest Green on December 5 and so we are already reviewing the detail of the announcement and are in discussions with the Sports Ground Safety Authority, North Yorkshire Safety Advisory Group and Harrogate Borough Council on how we make this happen.

"We will advise the number of supporters that we will be able to welcome back, which will be subject to social distancing calculations and how we arrive at which supporters will be offered a place."

ID:423572: cacheID:423572:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6852:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Simon Weaver pictured in November 2019
Read Next:
Simon Weaver lavishes praise on Harrogate Town forward Jack Muldoon
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
2.30pm
Jets
@
Vikings
6pm
Panthers
@
Bears
6pm
Ravens
@
Bengals
6pm
Colts
@
Jags
6pm
Dolphins
@
Patriots
6pm
Bills
@
Texans
6pm
Browns
@
Washington
9.05pm
Cardinals
@
49ers
9.05pm
Raiders
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Packers
@
Rams
9.25pm
Giants
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Walsall106131912719
2Gillingham10613125719
3BarrowBarrow10613137619
4Doncaster RoversDoncaster106131512319
5Notts County10532179818
6Port Vale105321512318
7Fleetwood TownFleetwood9441169716
8Crewe AlexandraCrewe9513109116
9Newport CountyNewport95041517-215
10Grimsby Town105051317-415
11Chesterfield103521710714
12AFC Wimbledon741295413
13MK Dons103341312112
14Bradford CityBradford93331110112
15Salford City933369-312
16Colchester UnitedColchester102531315-211
17Tranmere RoversTranmere925259-411
18Harrogate TownHarrogate10325916-711
19Bromley102441214-210
20Cheltenham TownCheltenham103161216-410
21Swindon TownSwindon10154913-48
22Carlisle UnitedCarlisle102171019-97
23Accrington StanleyAccrington91351119-86
24Morecambe10046814-64


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!