The latest from Bristol Rovers Chairman, Nick Higgs!
We come into this afternoon's match holding a slight advantage after the first leg tie at the New Lawn on Wednesday.Whilst we hold a one goal advantage, the tie is finely poised and I'm sure that another enthralling game is in prospect this afternoon.
On Wednesday I thought that both sides contributed to a match that was a credit to this league, and I'm sure that will be the case again this afternoon.
We ended the regular season in style with an emphatic 7-0 win against Alfreton Town last Saturday, in front of a record crowd for a Vanarama Conference fixture.
I don't think we could have asked any more of the players; I thought they were fantastic, and your support for them was just amazing. It shows the potential this club has, and what a fantastic fan base we have.
Whilst disappointed that we finished runners up I would like to congratulate Barnet, who are promoted as champions. They were in pole position for much of the season, though we were challenging them for most of that time and finished just one point behind them.
Had it not been for our slow start to the season, when we took just one point from our opening three games, then I think we might well have clinched the title.
At the end of that first week of the season I still felt we would do well, because even then there was a spirit in the squad. The players worked hard during pre-season, and were very fit, and I had every confidence that Darrell would turn things around.
I have come to know Darrell very, very, well over the course of this season and I was always confident that he would be the man to get us out of the league. He understands how important it is to bring in the right players at this level, and to be able to compete, and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of both teams, and players, at all levels of the game.
We have a great team of people at this football club, both on and off the pitch, and I have the utmost respect for everyone involved and know how hard they work and the effort they put into making this club successful.
After the disappointment of last season you could all have walked away, or not given us the backing we needed. Your support has been fantastic, both home and away, and I would like to thank each and every one of you for continuing to back our club.