Doncaster Rovers

John Ryan: Doncaster relegation "catastrophic"

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 17 April 2012

Doncaster chairman John Ryan reveals that he will have to reduce expenditure at the club following their "catastrophic" relegation.

Doncaster Rovers chairman John Ryan has described his side's relegation to League One as "catastrophic".

Rovers were relegated following their controversial 4-3 defeat to Portsmouth at the weekend, and Ryan has revealed that the club will have to reduce expenditure ahead of life in England's third tier.

"It's a different world isn't it League One? The one league you do need a parachute payment is going from the Championship to League One because 80% of the TV money goes to the Championship and only 12% goes to League One," he told Sky Sports News.

"The difference in finances equates to about £5m which for a club like ours is catastrophic. We have to rally round and do our best but the playing budget will have to be slashed, there is no two ways about that.

"We'll come back eventually and hopefully stronger but for a club of our size to survive four years in the Championship, it's not bad going."

Doncaster manager Dean Saunders recently expressed his dismay at the referee's performance in their 4-3 defeat to Portsmouth, questioning the official's future in the game.