The gesture

[Son of Earl.]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19...sportsound

Great to see from the club. Fantastic sign and a statement for the country to see.

[Balnakyle]

Bit of a strange thing to do. If the club wanted to pay for some buses why would they not do it for our own fans going to Aberdeen on the 11th?

[Chewbacca]

...............Because our fans would then spend their money in Aberdeen.

These 'Well fans will get free transport up, but then pay their match ticket, by a pie, a drink, a programme - all going to Ross County. There has been a bit of talk on P&B about how fans are struggling to afford the trip up due to spending money going to the CL game, this will hopefully mean we get a good crowd up, fill the stadium and create a good atmosphere.

It's not just a gesture, although we should get some good press over it, and a full ground on day 1 should entice some more travellers for future games...... good move IMO.

[Heg38]

Charity should begin at home, Roy should be looking after his own fans first and foremost!
A free bus is not going to entice that many Mwell fans up here, they struggle to get 4000 at home games!

[Pete The Jakey]

I cant believe the negativity on this forum these days. This is a great gesture, and I would love to see more of this kind of thing happening in Scottish football.

Maybe Stewart Milne will pay for our buses to Pittodrie.....

[StatesideStaggie]

I can only see this as a good thing: it's good press, it generates good will among the away support, and it guarantees a full house on match day.

...and as to that last point, does anyone think that the board- and by "the board" I mean Roy- didn't sit down and work out the math beforehand? At worst it's a break even proposition when the additional match tickets, pies, programs, etc. are accounted for, not to mention Well fans spending their cash in town before and after the match.

Whether it's with Global or with County, Roy hasn't made his money by accident and I can't see him putting a foot wrong with this gesture either.

As to other clubs making this kind of gesture for traveling County supporters, it would be great (airfare from the States is running about 500 pounds if any of those chairman are listening!), but for now it will be just another example of what separates "us" from the collective "them."

[Wicky]

(07-30-2012 12:25 PM)Heg38 Wrote:  A free bus is not going to entice that many Mwell fans up here, they struggle to get 4000 at home games!

Very clever offer. This is a win win for County. If few take it up County get loads of positive publicity for little outlay. If lots take it up, the increased take at Global Victoria will more than cover the cost.

I can see this being taken up by other clubs, and forever being known as the County Initiative!

[Five Minutes from the Ground]

I remember a few years back when Leeds Utd were in the top flight, they did a deal with Swindon when they were playing them in the League Cup at home. Admission for £5 if Swindon lay on buses for £5, kids free. The away end was rammed, great atmosphere on the night, and Leeds got great press for it. BTW, that was the game where Paul Robinson, the former England goalie, scored an extra-time equaliser with a cracking header.

[Slatefordstag]

The day any of us can question Roy's business acumen is the day we shouldbe trying to buy the club. I'm sure he has got to were he is by making a lot more right descions than wrong!

Plus who is to say Motherwell won't return the favour!?

Even if they don't at least as a club once again we are seen to be giving back to Scottish football fans rather than take take take like so many others.

[Five Minutes from the Ground]

(07-30-2012 12:43 PM)Pete The Jakey Wrote:  I cant believe the negativity on this forum these days. This is a great gesture, and I would love to see more of this kind of thing happening in Scottish football.

Maybe Stewart Milne will pay for our buses to Pittodrie.....

Aye, and maybe an Aberdonian on Union Street will put his hand in his pocket on flag day.

---

It's the biggest day in Ross County's history. Do we want it be like the Olympics with empty seats everywhere?

Well done Roy and the board.

[Mackie]

Its a great gesture on behalf of the club, welcoming out new found opponents with some traditional highland hospitality. It's a different approach to get fans into our stadium to make it look as full as possible as Motherwell have much more important ties after us (Champions league and Celtic) so those who might not have travelled due to cost will now possibly head up.

After the summer that we have just had the resultant mess that we are still trying to work through it's a breath of fresh air to see other chairmen think about other fans apart from their own. Hopefully we'll see the trend continue and who knows, maybe a few other clubs will offer to fund a bus down to their home game in an attempt to get us (and Caley fans) through their gates

[StrathyStaggie]

People just need an excuse to moan before the season actually starts. Good gesture IMO.

[Savage Henry]

Changed my mind on this. Thoroughly decent gesture. Much lauded across the division.

[dorsetstaggie]

Cracking gesture - pure quality, get them in to see our new STADIUM (I'd want to show it off too) create good will, bring money into the town, good press and PR and get a real buzz going. No down side. The man knows a thing or two.

[StuartTaylor]

(07-30-2012 12:25 PM)Heg38 Wrote:  Charity should begin at home, Roy should be looking after his own fans first and foremost!

What, you mean like building us an SPL compliant stadium, and bank-rolling our club for many years?

It's a great gesture, and as has been said hopefully Well will return the favour.

[thejailender]

I heard about this the other week and my first impression was - What! I've paid my £20 and now they are paying for other clubs suppporters.

But then, I had a think about it.
The publicity will be good.. Which I think we've now seen
It will help fill the stadium on the opening day of the season - which is a good thing, it's a showcase event in the history of the club.

And when you think on it, for every fan he pays for on the bus, we're going to make a few quid.
I don't know how much the bus will be per person - I assume around £13. Yet they will be paying £20 for a match ticket.. Hey presto a profit!. Not counting program or any other money they spend.

With it being in between the two European games for them there would be a real chance that only a handful of fans would have travelled, but with free transport I suspect a lot, lot more will come up.

Also County will have a rough number of away fans making the trip, so could potentially use part of the away stand for home (Hospitality) fans!

[robinoz]

brilliant gesture......just what's needed.

[StattoStaggie]

As said above it sets County apart from the rest. Scottish football has seen enough anti behaviour for a while. It's not all about greed or money, despite his success financially that's not what Roy is about, an incredibly decent man from my personal interaction with him. Scottish football needs more of this.

[theythinkitsallover]

Finally a good news story about Scottish football. A fantastic gesture and what a way to start building relationships in the SPL.

I would imagine for one of the other return fixtures, maybe a discount on ticket price as a thank you but if not, at least we will have done everything possible to ensure the stadium on Saturday is packed (home and away) and the place is bouncing.

Fantastic gesture

[County73]

Wonderful gesture which hopefully gets a few more bums on seats. But, i'm travelling from Dunfermline and have to pay my way. No sour grapes though, I just want a full stadium, cracking atmosphere and 100% commitment from the lads.