We have had successful managers in the past- Reg Freeman, Andy Smailes,
Tom Johnston, Danny Williams and Jack Mansell spring to mind. We were let’s not forget an established club at Championship level (then Div 2) for all of the 50’s and most of the 60’s. However times were easier then, the maximum wage and non-spending attitude of Directors kept the playing field level. 
Ronnie has achieved more in the most difficult of climates, where money really does do the talking. Others can detail his progress better than I from narrowly missing the play-offs in his first season, to play-off failure and through to successive promotions. He then contrived to keep us at this level for 4 seasons with the lowest gates in the Division and with the lowest amount of investment. This has been no mean feat. Some of the messages thatI have read pouring abuse on him for various reasons I trust spring from the heat of the moment and on reflection I would like to think the authors would seethe wider picture and thank him for his contribution to the great days we are enjoying against some of the better team in the land and at some of the best grounds.
I say contribution to this achievement as in all things football success is never down to one factor or individual, but naturally the manager is a catalyst around which almost everything evolves, especially onthe playing side. The
players have to play but the manager chooses those players and in our case find them. His decision to replace he bulk of the side on promotion to Div 2 was a brave one and his signing of Gray, Robins, Talbot and of course Alan Lee proved to be masterstrokes. That season in Division 2 was indeed magical. It started out as a fairly ordinary season with consolidation being the aim and ended up as one that gave us some of the best memories, whatever we achieve in the future, that we will ever have as Millers Fans. The November win at Northampton set us off on a run that culminated in the unforgettable nights at Wycombe and Luton before reaching its climax against Brentford. 
Surviving in Division 1 (as it was at the time) was never going to be easy. Before the season started he resigned Pollitt (not a universally popular decision at the time) and brought in Chris Swailes soonto be followed by Martin McIntosh. Ronnie has got to be given credit for finding our two stalwart central defenders as much as anything he has done, they are after all not names that trip of the tongue but they have been so instrumental in keeping us up. Despite not managing a win in the first 10 games there was still a great sense of pulling together on the part of the management, players and supporters – we were all embarking on a great adventure. The tide turned and, albeit on goal difference, we stayed up.
Over the last 3 seasons there has been no real progress in terms of a planned improvement of the squad. The crowds and income levelledoff, the collapse of ITV Digital TV caused a shortfall in projected income and investment by the chairman was not readily forthcoming. Alan Lee left, Darren Byfield came and went, and although in the second season we were never really threatened with relegation by last year we were worrying again. This seasonof course we have never got of the ground as the Division has got more difficult as the easier prey among the clubs left has already gone down. It can be argued that we struggled just as much to score goals last season but we survived by winning the games we had to win by beating the clubs at the foot of the table with us, this year we have not done so.
So where did it start to turn sour? Ronnie retains vast support among the fans and I have to say I have never been one of those, even at this stage, who wanted him to go but in recent weeks I have become equivocal about it, perhaps believing it to be inevitable. Just as with success failure cannot be laid at the hands off one factor or individual. There has been less investment than previously, if that were possible, there has been key injuries to the Martin’s Butler and MacIntosh, there has been all the unrest caused by possible failed takeovers and the affect of Ronnie’s private situation cannot be ignored totally. The fact remains that we have won only3 times in 30 matches and are cast adrift at the bottom of the Division. Relegation is staring us in the face and in these circumstances the manageris under scrutiny. The situation is complicated by a change of ownership at the club and, with his contract finishing at the end of the season, Ronnie's wish to have some future security.
The problem in writing about all this is a lack of access to all the facts, who really knows the full story? There seems little point in taking sides on whether he should go or stay. He has left us and that will not change. Only time will tell whether it is a great disaster or the shot in the arm everyone needed Should he have been given the chance to bring us back up if we go down? Did he want to stay? Would he have left us at the first opportunity of an attractive job if we are relegated? These are all questions about which we can only speculate. Over his 8 seasons here Ronnie has shown himself to be a more than competent manager with an eye for unearthing players, working to a budget and a supreme motivator of players. For anyone to argue otherwise isin my opinion churlish. This makes him a prime target for other clubs, although my impression is that his name is no longer immediately mentioned for every vacancy in the land. We know he is ambitious and many of those who are castigating the board for their part in this situation would have been ‘pleased’ for him to leave us of his own volition. The main cause of anger seems to be the action of the new board refusal to give Ronnie a new contract on his terms. They seem to argue that he is so vital to the club that he should be able to have all his demands met. I repeat I have no way of knowing what went on during the negotiations. Did Ronnie hold a pistol to the Boards head? Was he asked to take an unreasonable pay cut? I don’t know. I would hope that the board at least offered him the chance to show his continued commitment to us and sign an extended contract. If this was offered at salary Ronnie felt unable to accept because of a series of financial strictures that the board are having to deal with then I see that as fair enough. The new Management team need to put us on a sound long- term footing and if that means that regrettably we have to pull in the horns on the wage bill front that needs must.
Much is being said about the promise of the new Board to take into account the opinion of the fans and the fact that the majority have been ignored on this issue. Undoubtedly the majority have not got their wish on this but I would still defend the Boards right to make the decision they have. Taking account of opinion is not the same as giving everyone what they wantall the time. Management by committee is no way to run anything. Decisions haveto be made. The present Directors have acquired the club and they have the responsibility to make them looking at the bigger picture and long term. Memories are not so short that we cannot remember the relief and optimism that was felt when they took over and there was at last a chance of a long term strategy for taking the club forward. That surely is still the case. It would have been easy for them to keep Ronnie on board and carry favour with the vast majority, although not everyone, and the fact that they have not shows that they are prepared to make unpopular decisions which they see as being in the Club’s best long term interest. They may be wrong of course but let’s give them a chance. It is unfortunate that their first real decision has been such a tough one. They are after all supporters of the Club and will have enjoyed these magical years as much as anyone. To vilify them at this early stage would be a shame. They have some tough times to get us through, after all the possibility of dropping down a Division never brings out unity or a sense of well-being. As with those who denigrate Ronnie’s achievements to say that you will turn your back on the Club and the board over this decision is churlish. Because of the confidentiality clauses we shall probably never know the whole story, but at this stage we have to trust the new management that so many begged for.
There are posts about wasting money on the stand and comments about the Directors just wanting to line their pockets with money from its use. What is the point of having the newest stand in Division 2? Nobody loves the old Millmoor more than I but as you watch glimpses of goals from grounds throughout the country and see that even Conference clubs have modern, even if modest, facilities we need to improve the image and product we sell. The income from a modern stand is vital to the club. Today I have been talking to a work colleague who was at a conference at Carrow Road yesterday. That is the sort of income that we need. The Board should be encouraged to build the stand.
Yes, I am sorry that Ronnie has gone but in the last 47 years it is not the first time I have seen a manager or player go that everyone would prefer to have stayed. It happens for any number of reasons and one simply has to move on. I am not going to argue with those that say that Ronnie Moore has achieved more for this Club than any other previous manager, these have been great years and I thank him (and John Breckin) for them and wish him well wherever he goes. The decision not to keep him at any costs may turn out to be a bad one but it will take more than that to dilute my support for the Millers.
Those who make short and simple posts such as let's get behind Alan Knill, Mark Robins and the players and give the new Board a chance have got it just right without feeling the need to ramble on. All is not yet lost. We need 3 points in front of a full house on Saturday and then wecan see where we go from there.