Saturday, 6 August 2011

DRFC O'Driscoll unhappy with Westlife gig

Doncaster Rovers manager Sean O`Driscoll has revealed his frustration and disappointment at the Keepmoat Stadium management for allowing Westlife to perform a concert on the pitch on the eve of the new season.

Rovers will once again start the championship season with an away fixture for the fourth season in a row, after having to withdraw their application for a home game on the opening weekend, so that the groundsman could spend more time preparing the pitch.

Speaking on the BBC News website , O`Driscoll said, 'I would've loved a home fixture [at the start of the season] because we've never had one in the time we've been in the Championship. We had to give way to Westlife unfortunately.
'It's a source of frustration.
'I understand the financial implications of trying to run a stadium.
'Nobody has a concert five days before a championship season. It smacks of being vindictive."

Irish boy band Westlife played in front of around 15,000 fans at the Keepmoat last Sunday with the pitch covered.

Rovers have rented the ground from the council since relocating to the Keepmoat in 2007 and have had a number of long running battles with the SMC who run the stadium.

Rovers were forced to play all six of their pre season friendlies away from home this summer, something else that frustrated O`Driscoll, 'We will be the only football league team not to have even played on our pitch before the start of the season - that can't be right,' he continued.

After starting the season with an away fixture at Brighton Rovers will play three home fixtures in the space of seven days, starting with Tranmere Rovers in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night

Source: doncaster.vitalfootball.co.uk


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