By Roth Admin
November 13 2003

Rob Andrew recently gave an exclusive interview to our Rotherham Sports Network correspondent on the promotion issue. It’s very apt at the moment, that many people within the game are questioning the ability of the promoted club to sustain a serious campaign in the Premiership. Just what the answer is, nobody seems to know. So when recently our intrepid reporter got the chance to speak to the great man, it seemed only obvious that if any one knew the answer to the $64,000 question, he would.

When asked if any National division one club could survive in the Premiership in their first season, Rob Andrew answered, “That’s a tough one. It’s so difficult now; the gap is increasing all the time. The pace and power of the Premiership is so far ahead, the pace of the Premiership is the main difference. Leeds are doing well now, but even they, as you know finished bottom in their first season. They had the benefit of a second season and recruited well, not bringing in too many new players.”

When asked, why do teams find it so difficult to make that step up to the Premiership, Andrews said almost sympathetically, “teams have to recruit in large numbers and that’s a problem. Continuity is important and you loose that when in effect you have to change virtually your whole squad.”

Not deterred, our reporter pushed on to get the answer to his elusive question. So Rob, what’s the answer? How can the promoted club survive in their first season? Rob smiled and thought for a moment before giving his considered response, after what seemed an eternity he simply replied, “I don’t know.”

Our reporter thanked him for his time and made the long journey home thinking that it would be easier to find Lord Lucan, than the answer to his question.

So, just what a team has to do to survive in the Premiership, remains a mystery and it will do so until someone actually achieves the feat. Then of course we will all know the answer including Mr Andrew.



Rotherham Sports Network would like to thank Mr Rob Andrew for taking the time to chat with us.