Waste of space

I thought there had been enough pain, suffering and humiliation to bare for Gasheads this season.
There have been heavy beatings, ignominious early exits from two cup competitions, a penalty kick in the unmentionables when another Wembley appearance was on the distant horizon.
There has been a revolving carousel of managers and the prospect of the yawning chasm of the Football League basement.
At times we have had to put up with being the butt of some pretty painful jokes at the hands of rival supporters.
And we are playing at a ground which is a few steps removed from a landfill site.
But just when you think you are emerging from the dark days, when the shining light that is Stuart Campbell is beginning to restore your dignity, and that you can raise your head with pride once more, what happens?
Rovers proudly name their new shirt sponsors.
McCarthy Waste Management.
According to the Gas website they 'provide environmental solutions for waste and recycling problems'.
The company, it goes on, were formed in 2001 'to fill a gap in the local market for removal of both domestic and commercial waste'.
But let's strip away all the positive spin and PR speak.
We're being sponsored by a RUBBISH COMPANY.
Still, I guess when we're singing 'What a load of rubbish' after games in future the club can say that we were just voicing our support for our generous sponsors.
I have absolutely no objection to a local firm putting money into the club, and the more the merrier considering our on-going state of sporting paupery.
But surely even the Rovers board could have seen the blatant pitfalls that might arise from our shirts being emblazoned with the name of a refuse disposal organisation.
To be fair, the sponsors were pulled out of a draw and each company that entered had to pay for the privilege so it made the club a decent wedge.
But I'm still struggling with the whole idea.
I mean, owner Kevin McCarthy says the company are thrilled because "we are all Rovers fans and wanted to support the club."
Fine. But if I was a Rovers fan and owned a waste management company the LAST thing I would do is try to get my name on their shirts.
I'd maybe make a donation, buy space on advertising hoardings around the ground and place adverts in the programme, but that would be it.
Of course, when things like this happen I can't help directing more undoubtedly ill-founded suspicions at our neighbours to the south.
After all, if I was a Bristol CITY fan with a waste management company, I could think of NOTHING BETTER than having their name soiling the shirts of our hated neighbours. What a wheeze that would be.
But, then, I've always said my loathing of the red side is totally irrational.
Still, I've thought of how we could tie in our new sponsorship with our traditional club song, "Goodnight Irene".
Maybe the chorus could finish with a chant going something like this...
"Goodnight Irene, I'll see you in my dreams - Don't forget to put the bins out".