Chairman Andy Mazey's mid-season update

Chairman Andy Mazey has provided a mid-season update for Rochdale Hornets supporters, on several topics including board and ownership strengthening.

In several of my previous updates over recent years I have reiterated that the door is always open to like-minded people who can contribute, not just financially, but professionally towards the club’s growth and aspirations.

At the time of writing this update, I am delighted it's now been revealed that Glenn Kershaw has joined the club's board of directors. Additionally, Glenn and his brother Iain Kershaw have also become shareholders in the club.

Both brothers have been supporters for many years, but in more recent times have become good friends and sponsors. Glenn has also been a great help to the club commercially and operationally this year, so fans will have no-doubt seen him around already.

Away from the boardroom, having already passed the halfway point of the season, I’m pleased to report that we are in as good a place as anyone could reasonably or realistically of expected. 

It's important to remember this season’s merged Championship competition is effectively two divisions within a division, and there is a vast difference in the size and scale of turnover and revenue of most of the established Championship clubs, to those elevated from League One, and in some cases, clubs are even operating full-time staff and playing squads.

Reaching the semi-finals of the 1895 Cup and despatching one of those afore mentioned established Championship clubs, Sheffield Eagles, along the way was an achievement the players and staff can be very proud of, as is beating rivals Swinton and Keighley home and away: the highlights to date of what has been a thoroughly enjoyable season so far.

The reality is, however, we got a bit of a reality check and a look at a genuine Championship club in Widnes during the semi-final. The difference in supporter levels directly correlates to the difference in player spend, and ultimately the difference on the scoreboard. 

The message is therefore clear. Rochdale people can't sit back and expect myself and other shareholders to prop up stagnant attendances and cover shortfalls forever. It's sustainable while we are willing to do it. However, to be self-sustainable it must be a collective effort. If we want to see the team progress again next year, we need more fans and more people backing the club.

I speak with Nigel Wood and senior executives at the RFL and RL Commercial on a regular basis. A lot of the hard yards and work we do off the pitch is often not seen by many.

I was, however, recently congratulated and thanked by Nigel, for in his words, not mine, building a solid, reliable, safe and secure rugby league club. The one area that does continually let us down though, and is regularly highlighted to me, is the lack of growth in our attendances. If we truly want to become an established second tier club in whatever the future of the sport looks like, we simply need more support.

Contract talks with new and existing players are well underway, with new contracts for TJ Boyd, Ethan Wood, Jaden Dayes and Jamie Dallimore already having been revealed. Gary and I are working hard in the background and there will be further announcements to follow in the coming weeks and months ahead.

As a club we remain heavily invested in our community and our grassroots, and the Rochdale Hornets Sporting Foundation having been reshaped over the past couple of years is doing good things under the stewardship and Mark Wynn and Charlotte Griffiths. 

Our community hub, The Hive, is going from strength to strength, as is the wheelchair team, and our women’s programme which now sits under the club’s management has supported the local community greatly since it's re-launch and is something we remain committed to.    

The All Hornets Supporters Association has gone through some change in recent times but is now running monthly socials and more frequent events, with the aim of greater fan engagement and increased financial support to the club. I would urge anyone who is not already a member to please sign up and support the efforts, as every penny raised goes directly to the playing budget. 

To conclude, YOUR club is in a good place all things considered, but we need to push harder and strive for more. With greater levels of support and more people endeavouring to do more for this club, we’re only going to get sustainably stronger.

Onward, Hornets!
Andy Mazey