THE independent Bromsgrove Rovers Supporters' Society has launched a dramatic bid to take over the struggling club following their relegation from the Dr Martens League.

The 100-member society, which launched in February, agreed at a meeting last Wednesday that the best way forward for Rovers would be for the Bannisters -- led by chief executive and majority shareholder Pat Bannister -- to resign and hand the club over to the society.

They believe there are people and organisations in the town willing to put money into the club if Pat Bannister steps down and sells his majority stake.

Society members now await a meeting with Rovers' administrators, Mayfields insolvency practitioners, to discuss a possible takeover.

Society press officer Peter O'Connell, who quit his post as first team physio and chiropodist after a 25-year association with the club at the weekend, explained: "We feel the Bannisters should resign. The club has gone from a high level to a low level in a very short space of time and no-one has got any confidence in them.

"The future of Bromsgrove Rovers lies in the town -- it's part of the heritage of Bromsgrove and we feel it's just falling away under the Bannisters. The club has no heart at the moment."

The society plans to do a leaflet drop in the town to gauge feelings about the Bannisters.

"We've got to get the opinion of people in Bromsgrove," O'Connell said. "We will go by the feeling of the town, whatever that may be."

Opinion appears to be divided over the Bannisters. Some say Pat Bannister saved the club from extinction while others suggest the club has gone from bad to worse during his tenure at Rovers.

Home match attendances -- although still impressive at this level of football -- have dropped during the Bannisters' stay at the club, while some fans refuse to enter the Victoria Ground or drink in the Victoria Club while they are in charge.

Pat Bannister, who refuses to acknowledge the society becuase he claims it has never attempted to meet him and fellow board members, said he would be happy to talk to anyone prepared to take the club forward.

He said: "I have always said that if there is someone willing to take the club over, come and do so. They only have to make a phone call and come and meet me. I'll consider anyone who is looking to help the club if they've got the interests of Rovers at heart.

"What people should remember is that the Bannisters have saved this club twice and we weren't here when the club was relegated from the Conference. I've given the club a chance of survival by paying off the debts."

While a possible takeover starts to brew, director of football Steve Daniels has outlined his plans for the Greens as they look forward to a new season in the Midland Alliance.

Daniels has targeted 12 players from Dr Martens League Western Division clubs from a list of 36, while Pat Bannister is looking to start three to four teams for 16 to 19-year-olds when the club's new football academy starts in July.

Daniels beamed: "It's exciting times for Rovers and we're looking forward to it. The players I'll be talking to over the next few weeks are good."

l Letters, comments include: "For the demise of this once great club, chief executive Pat Bannister should hang his head in shame."