Rolls: Be a part of the new Terras' era
By Derek Bish

Saturday 27th March 2010

GEORGE Rolls wants the whole Weymouth community to be part of the football club’s new era after successfully entering into a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

The Terras’ chairman now plans to put his model for Weymouth FC into action and create links with the people of the resort through the Weymouth FC Supporters’ Assoc-iation (WSA) and a livelier Wessex Stadium during the week with a range of functions and activities.

He also hopes that fans will turn out in their hundreds for today’s home match with Thurrock to mark the new beginning.

Rolls said: “We are absolutely delighted with the result of the CVA and the way the creditors have voted.

“It ensures Weymouth FC exists in the guise it is at the moment, which is fantastic for the supporters – it is all about the fans and the community.”

He added: “All we want now is for the fans to turn up tomorrow in their hundreds to get behind the start of a new era.

“We want the whole of the community to be part of that new era.”

Although there is a 28-day period during which an appeal could be lodged, Rolls said he would deal with that should it arise, but was looking forward to starting afresh with vice-chairman Pranas Preidzius.

That fresh start will begin with a fans’ forum at the Wessex Stadium’s Weyline Lounge on Monday (8pm).

“Obviously we have to get the community feel back and people have to trust,” said Rolls. “Pranas has put his hard-earned cash in and is enjoying his time down there, which is great, and we are keen to be there for the long haul.

“If we can add some local people to the board it would be great and we want to be a community club where everybody is proud of coming to the Wessex Stadium.”

The Trade Recruitment supremo reiterated his desire to stay with the club for longer by adding: “We’ve now all of a sudden wiped out the debt. We only have £1,500 a month to pay over five years.

“The club has not been in such a good position for a long time and I would like to think we will still be there in five years’ time.”

John West and Ade MacDonald released a short statement on behalf of WSA, which read: “We welcome today’s agreement of the CVA and the consequent substantial reduction in the club’s debt.“There obviously remain matters that need clarification and it is right that we seek answers to these.

“WSA will be meeting with George Rolls early next week to discuss these and the way forward for the Club.

“We also need to understand the implications of the 28-day appeal period.

“We are keen that the club’s directors make an early statement on these and other matters and that George Rolls himself holds a fans’ forum as soon as possible.”

The statement added: “We hope all Terras fans will join us in wanting to move forward starting with support for our team at tomorrow’s match against Thurrock.

“We have come very close indeed over past months to seeing the end of Weymouth FC.

“However, as a consequence of today’s decision, we still have a club and hopefully now the opportunity to rebuild, if we can do so in a spirit of unity and openness.”

n Were you one of the creditors who voted? What is your opinion on the decision?

And what do you the fans think?

Can the club finally move on or is the next crisis waiting just around the corner, as has been the case on so many occasions in the past few years?

Contact the Dorset Echo’s sports desk via its website at dorsetecho.co.uk, email on sport@dorsetecho.co.uk or post to Sports Desk, Dorset Echo, Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 9XD.