Stick with us and the future will be brighter, Tony Brown tells fans

8:20am Friday 16th November 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Chris Kirwan

RODNEY PARADE HERO: Tony Brown RODNEY PARADE HERO: Tony Brown

TONY Brown believes it can be short-term pain, long-term gain for Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Brown breathed life back into Newport RFC in the late 1990s and turn of the millennium when he attracted the likes of Gary Teichmann, Simon Raiwalui, Shane Howarth and Percy Mont-gomery to the Black and Ambers.

It continued in the early days of the Dragons but the region has floundered since the benefactor left in 2005.

He acknowledges that times are tough – “the regions and Welsh rugby as a whole is in a terrible mess” – but believes that recent steps to get their house in order can allow the Dragons to thrive.

“When Chris Brown came in the club was up to its ears in debt,” said Brown, no relation to the chief executive, who arrived in March.

“I brought him in and he is doing a first class job – the big thing was to stop going bust and we have done that.

“Chris is a business man who understands the necessity for corporate events and hospitality.

“The first thing we had to do was set the finances straight and I sent a letter around to season ticket holders asking for them to stay with us and see it through.

“That’s what we are trying to do and we have had to cut back on the playing budget on the basis that we do owe so much money.

“The big burden is the stand but you can either invest in the infrastructure, like we did, or the team. You can’t do both.

“And our new stand gives us a huge opportunity for spreading our wings because we are doing a superb job in terms of the business now.”

Brown rejoined the board in January 2011 and pumped yet more money in when he spent £3 million on the £5.5 million Bisley Stand (with chairman Martyn Hazell putting in £2 million).

That facility – which is in use throughout the week – has opened up new revenue streams for the Dragons but they are struggling on the field, second from bottom of the RaboDirect Pro12 and on a six-game losing streak.

But the 75-year-old from Surrey, who was inducted into Newport RFC’s inaugural hall of fame this year, believes the region is worth fighting for.

“In 2005 I wanted to leave the club debt-free but then we decided to go ahead on that bloody stand!” said Brown, whose passion for Welsh rugby burns as bright as ever. It ended up costing £5.5 million and I put in £3 million and Hazell £2 million. But I am in no hurry to have anything back because I wanted to give something back to the people of Newport.

“I want them to have something to believe in. I am back on board again because I do think that there is something here worth holding on to.

“We are going through a difficult time at the moment on the pitch but we just need to get through this season “Then we hope we can reinvest some money so that we can take on the other regions but the first thing that had to be done was save the region altogether, because it could easily have disappeared.”

Comments(29)

high x boy says...
9:32am Fri 16 Nov 12

Great to hear from Tony and Chris about what is going on about the present and futures plan.

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East Newport Dave says...
11:28am Fri 16 Nov 12

The great man has spoken. The least I can do is to get a season ticket for the second half of the season. I wish Mr. Brown had gone public with this earlier.

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high x boy says...
11:50am Fri 16 Nov 12

yes great news.

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Euwan Usami says...
12:41pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Double edged really;it explains the boards lack of response to the problems on the pitch but also confirms that we will have to watch the team get smashed every game for the foreseeable future. At least we know why now I suppose. #mixedfeelings #spendthegameintheba
rinstead

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Oddjob says...
1:33pm Fri 16 Nov 12

More promises from Saint Tony that are wearing thinner by the season. I'm surprised that he hasn't gone into the catering business. Did he want to give something back to the people of Newport or did he mean the people of Gwent I wonder.

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Keith Barnett says...
2:45pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Tony is a top man. Just sorry that he got conned by the WRU and Ebbw Vale. He should have stick to his guns and gone alone. We'd all be much better off
Hope it DOES work out for the Dragons in the long run but they are going to have to invest in a big coach and then 3 or 4 big players

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East Newport Dave says...
3:21pm Fri 16 Nov 12

Season ticket sorted for 2nd half of season and knock down price for Sunday. It's going to be painful but I feel I must do my little bit for the cause. 'Things can only get better' as the song goes.

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Doberman1 says...
10:55am Sat 17 Nov 12

At last some info coming out from a very believable source which at least sheds some light on the "pitch pantomime" we have to endure every week. Why has it taken so long. For what it is worth I think we have the makings of a decent team but with the current coaching set up we will go nowhere. If we are truly gearing up for next season then get rid of DE and bring in a decent coach, first job in the off season is to buy a couple of decent forwards and then try and persuede the fans to re invest for another season.

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cambridge4x4 says...
12:48pm Sat 17 Nov 12

only 8 more years to go and it will be there.---BACK TO THE GLORY DAYS !.
Season tickets will be at a premium , in fact there will be a 5 year waiting list to get one .----so buy one tomorrow as it will be a better investment than gold.
The team will be playing in black and amber hoops .
The NGD coaching staff have identified about 15 schoolboys who are unfortunately only 12 years old , but have patience, because they are all outstanding prospects.
Then my alarm went off and I had to go to drive the van and start another day.
Twas a great dream whilst it lasted.
I also dreamt that Wales beat Samoa!
Must stop eating cheese before I go to bed .

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silurix says...
3:59pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Well said Mr Brown. No stupid promises. No flatulent rhetoric. Just a simple statement of the realities of the Dragons' current situation. The supporters now know where they are.

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countyno9 says...
6:36pm Sat 17 Nov 12

Newport County have saved the rugby by gracing Rodney Parade with a proper sport at long last

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Euwan Usami says...
10:51pm Sat 17 Nov 12

countyno9 wrote:
Newport County have saved the rugby by gracing Rodney Parade with a proper sport at long last
Yeah, a non league version of a girls game. Brilliant the 1200 that show up once a fortnight have really turned it around. Tw@t!

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countyno9 says...
7:54am Sun 18 Nov 12

Stop biting Euwan Tw@t,more serious breaks in football than rugby and as for girls i dont think you would get a bigger girl than gareth thomas who was i believe the welsh rugby union captain lol , i bet he could tell us a few storys from the rugby showers with all the other rugby girls of which it is common knowledge that gareth thomas is only the tip of the iceburg in the rugby fraternity theres plenty more where he came from in the rugby locker room , whats the point of playing out a so called hard image on the pitch then putting on a nice dress and high heels and camping up when they get home lol ,as for the crowds you are correct we are in nonleague where as the dragons are in their top league and struugle to maintain 5000 crowd lol, do your maths if you can use a calculator our crowds are averaging 2,500 all spending money over rodney which has saved the dragons

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Euwan Usami says...
9:40am Sun 18 Nov 12

countyno9 wrote:
Stop biting Euwan Tw@t,more serious breaks in football than rugby and as for girls i dont think you would get a bigger girl than gareth thomas who was i believe the welsh rugby union captain lol , i bet he could tell us a few storys from the rugby showers with all the other rugby girls of which it is common knowledge that gareth thomas is only the tip of the iceburg in the rugby fraternity theres plenty more where he came from in the rugby locker room , whats the point of playing out a so called hard image on the pitch then putting on a nice dress and high heels and camping up when they get home lol ,as for the crowds you are correct we are in nonleague where as the dragons are in their top league and struugle to maintain 5000 crowd lol, do your maths if you can use a calculator our crowds are averaging 2,500 all spending money over rodney which has saved the dragons
I am old enough to rember when maths didn't involve calculators.

I am obviously arguing with a kid, I should know better.

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countyno9 says...
10:55am Sun 18 Nov 12

Not arguing Euwan lol , you started the insults Tw@t and girls game ,so whats your veiw on the many rugby girls of which one is the ex welsh rugby union captain lol, god i bet he couldnt wait for the final whistle and to get with the other so called hardmen in the showers lol , calculator or old maths research before you post and you will find that the County are averaging 2,500 hundred as a nonleague team ,you can double that my freind if they get into the bottom tier of the football league which is more money for the dragons, if i was a dragons fan id want a successful County as it,s more money for the rugby! as stated we are not ev en in the top division the dragons are , im glad to be part of a good sporting movement in Newport theres nothing else ,i also watch the dragons and i played a good standard of rugby ,but give credit where its due the rugby have made thousands from the footy this year and remember if they only made a tenner that is a tenner they wouldnt have , i see you sidefooted the girly element in rugby union ,no surprise there though .lol

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Nptsportsfan says...
12:15pm Sun 18 Nov 12

As my user name suggests i'm a newport sports fan. I've had this debate previously and get the usual crap back, ie footballs a girls game-I think county no9 has covered the irony of that.

the other fact is county are playing NON LEAGUE football whereas the Dragons are playing the best standard they can with internationals often gracing RP, if county made to the FOURTH tier of football we'd get between 2500-3000, but if we were in the premier league which is the equivalent of what the Dragons play well I would imagine we'd get well over 5000.

Got to agree with county no9 though Euwan you did stereotypically throw the first insult so if you can't take it don't give it.

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Euwan Usami says...
1:57pm Sun 18 Nov 12

To be fair the first insult was the reference to a proper sport at RP, the home of a proper sport for a long time now. My reaction was quite fitting. I also don't consider homophobic slants at respected internationals to be acceptable either. I Consider football to be a game for girls not gays. Try that insult to the guys face and you would quickly discover how wrong you were to suggest the guy is I anyway effeminate. There is a difference. As far as the County are concerned I followed them when they had their own ground before they became the gypsies they are now. I still wish them all the best but they are a paying guest at RP and their supporters should remember that and keep the infantile comments to themselves.

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Nptsportsfan says...
3:14pm Sun 18 Nov 12

and there you have it Euwan, I grew up playing both rugby and football and enjoyed both. I frequently put up with footballs a poofs,fairies,queers game from the rugby crowd so as I say it is ironic that the top welsh official and former captain are both gay-not homophobic but fact.

you don't consider homophobic slants against a respected international to be acceptable, but that is precisely the same type of ignorant references rugby folk use when referring to footballers-people in glass houses....

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countyno9 says...
4:57pm Sun 18 Nov 12

Well said the above poster using the homophobic example is quite apt as growing up playing and watc hing rugby and football the latter has always been referred to as a poofters game , that is until recent years with the welsh captain coming out of the closet lol , i actually wouldnt want to say it to gareths face just in case he tried to kiss me lol , question for you are you one of the many rugby bigots that for years called football a poofters game , surely if your taking the high ground doesnt it follow based on what you have stated hasnt rugby therefore always been homophbic view with football? funny how since gareths very commendable and brave stance the football and poofters jibe seems to have stopped ,as stated above people in glass houses .

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Euwan Usami says...
7:24pm Sun 18 Nov 12

Nptsportsfan wrote:
and there you have it Euwan, I grew up playing both rugby and football and enjoyed both. I frequently put up with footballs a poofs,fairies,queers game from the rugby crowd so as I say it is ironic that the top welsh official and former captain are both gay-not homophobic but fact.

you don't consider homophobic slants against a respected international to be acceptable, but that is precisely the same type of ignorant references rugby folk use when referring to footballers-people in glass houses....
You have alot of issues it seems. Try reading my last post again. I think you missed the point.

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Robert Shillabeer says...
7:30pm Sun 18 Nov 12

countyno9 wrote:
Well said the above poster using the homophobic example is quite apt as growing up playing and watc hing rugby and football the latter has always been referred to as a poofters game , that is until recent years with the welsh captain coming out of the closet lol , i actually wouldnt want to say it to gareths face just in case he tried to kiss me lol , question for you are you one of the many rugby bigots that for years called football a poofters game , surely if your taking the high ground doesnt it follow based on what you have stated hasnt rugby therefore always been homophbic view with football? funny how since gareths very commendable and brave stance the football and poofters jibe seems to have stopped ,as stated above people in glass houses .
To use the term poofters is very offensive language and is totally unacceptable on a public forum. An individuals sexual choices are for them to take and not for public comment. The County are playing quite well these days and I wish them well. I am a founder share holder in the county as is my daughter but have only been to one game this year and only one at thier previous ground, however, when they played firstly at Didcot, then Morton in Marsh I rarely missed a game. To ground share means more revenue for Rodney Parade and this will no doubt help the finances of not only the Dragons but Newport RFC as well. Both sports have a place in Gwent and for someone to try and introduce discord into it shows that bigotry still exists in some very small minded people.

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Nptsportsfan says...
7:33pm Sun 18 Nov 12

I love irony Euwan, in both threads you've ignored the facts.

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Nptsportsfan says...
7:40pm Sun 18 Nov 12

Robert don't you think its a bit rich that rugby folk complain about homphobic comments when from my experience this is a common view from the rugby fraternity towards football. Personally I couldn't care but the irony isn't lost on me. If you read county no9's last posts he refers to Gareth Thomas's "brave" decision.

The first insult was thrown by a rugby fan if you read all the posts.

I was also at county's first ever game in Kidlington.

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countyno9 says...
8:19pm Sun 18 Nov 12

Robert i totally agree i have used the word poofter as an example of what the rugby fans took great delight in calling football and footballers as a general quote , im sure you agree and will have hearde this many a time if you are a football man ,so i found it a bit rich when a rugby fan tried to use this against footballs name ,when going back through history as you know it is football that has had to put up with the poofter jibe from the rugby fraternity ,and i find it an irony that because of the bravery of Gareth Thomas this homophbic jibe has nowstopped being levelled at football by the rugby fraternity in gbeneral , but lets be honest i bet even gareth thomas has said it in the past ,not because he wanted to or agreed with it ,but because it was a general comment used by rugby fans towards the footballer ,so i think if you look at the facts ,since the start of time it has been rugby that has had the homphobic problem not football ,we just had to sit there and take the rugb y homphopic jibes, so its ironic that a welsh captains bravery has sdtopped the jibes at football , and i dont think even gareth would argue this.

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CM1 says...
10:54pm Sun 18 Nov 12

Reading this thread tells a person as much about society, including rugby fans and football fans, as anyone is likely to want to know. Good to see sporting tolerance is alive and kicking! Depressing yet predictable.

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countyno9 says...
6:06am Mon 19 Nov 12

Good post cm1 , but Rugby has always had a homphobic view of football FACT and because of the bravery of a former welsh captain this is no longer levelled at football , but rugby cannot not deny that going back in history it has had the homphobic veiw of football ,ie football poofters , me i have longlife freinds who have their own preferances , 2 are boxers and it,s great when they get picked on believe me , so live and let live and i look forward to the day when it,s not an issue in any sport , but what will always remain is that rugby has always had a homphobic view of football ,and if your being honest you will have the courage to acknwoledge this and not dodge the issue!

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countyno9 says...
6:06am Mon 19 Nov 12

Good post cm1 , but Rugby has always had a homphobic view of football FACT and because of the bravery of a former welsh captain this is no longer levelled at football , but rugby cannot not deny that going back in history it has had the homphobic veiw of football ,ie football poofters , me i have longlife freinds who have their own preferances , 2 are boxers and it,s great when they get picked on believe me , so live and let live and i look forward to the day when it,s not an issue in any sport , but what will always remain is that rugby has always had a homphobic view of football ,and if your being honest you will have the courage to acknwoledge this and not dodge the issue!

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Gareth says...
11:09am Mon 19 Nov 12

Nice one Mr Brown. As was said earlier, it's a shame we couldn't have had this is the public domain a little earlier.

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DaiFrank says...
6:21pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Tony Brown's statement is both welcomed and promising. I thought though that investment in the stadium and players should have happened simultaneously, because without the latter attendances would drop because of poor performances but obviously financial circumstances have dictated differently. As a reply to 'oddjob' yes I'm sure Tony did mean 'to give something back to the people of Newport'; what's so wrong with that?

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