Not much has changed, but we have some intrest - Coleman

Last updated : 22 February 2008 By Bigrich.....
It's 5 days on since the bombshell that the Millers were looking at thier second financial crisis in as many years and the chairman speak about whats happened this week.

Speaking to RotherFM, Coleman said; "To be honest, not much has changed since Monday, the statement we put out on Monday is as the situation stands now, but we have had quite a bit of intrest from potential investors who have contacted us after the statement."

"I'm alwasy optimistic but we have to take these people on their merits, we will talk to anybody who comes along but we've got to check them out if theyre genuine and things like that but so far its quite encouraging the signs are that people are taking notice out there."

"These things take time and dont happen overnight, we're asking people to put their hands in their pockets and most people don't like to do that or do it quickly." he added.

Coleman then went on to explain how the Millers had got into the current financial situation again; "The situation has never changed, I think people might have been under the misunderstanding that when we came in and rescued the club before we got rid of all the debt but we still had the cost and the club was losing £140,000 a month then, now its not losing anything like that now so we have got the costs really down, but we've chipped away and chipped away at every part of the club that we can and we've got it down to as far we think we can take it and now we need some help, we can't take it no further."

"We'll talk to anybody who will come and be potential investors, but my preference will be local people and local businessmen. I'm sure theres enough money in this town for people to bring this club forward. We need to bring it forward for a couple of years until we get this community stadium."

"Theres a lot of work going on with the community stadium, a lot of people are working on it, people who you don't see and not just at the club."

"I would'nt like to make the statement that a community stadium would be the be all and end all of Rotherham United's problems, We're no different from any football league club, we're all struggling to make ends meet and thats because of the state of football today. Theres so much money at the top but theres nothing being filtered through to the other end."

"The best thing that the people of Rotherham can do is get down to Millmoor and support their club. The more bodies we get through the gates every week the easier our task!"

Coleman was asked wether or not the board were over ambitous in their attendance figures, "No, I think that the side that Mark has put together and we've been in the promotion frame we think the team deserve more than thats been coming."

When asked about the debt owed to the Inland Revenue, Coleman was more discreet; "Thats something that will be taken up between us and the Inland Revenue, the same with any of our creditors - we will deal with them on a one to one basis. The Revenue are the same as any other creditors."

Asked if the staff at Millmoor had being paid, "Everybody at this club has had their money." Denis said.

Finalising, Denis was asked for his hopes for the rest of the season in a couple of words; "Just one word - Promotion!" was Denis's answer.

Interview from www.RotherFM.co.uk

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