MIllers fans back fight to save steelworks

CAMPAIGNERS took their Save Our Steel campaign to New York Stadium as the deadline approached for firms keen to step up and save their jobs at Tata.

Community union branch secretary Chris Williamson led a parade around the pitch before Rotherham United's final home match on Saturday (pictured).

Tata's board in India announced plans in March to withdraw from steelmaking in the UK, placing 11,000 jobs at risk, including at plants in Rotherham.

Bids or letters of intent were made by Liberty House, Excalibur Steel and Albion Steel before Tuesday's deadline.

Steelworkers met Millers players and officials at the club's Roundwood training ground in Rawmarsh before being invited to take their campaign to the match.

Mr Williamson said: "We are extremely grateful to Rotherham United. We got a really good reception and even the Blackburn fans gave us a standing ovation.

"The photos don't really do it justice because the place was really filling up at this time and everyone gave us a great reception.

"The steel industry employs thousands of people in Rotherham and the surrounding areas, and is absolutely crucial to the local economy.

"It is a really tough time for many families, not just in South Yorkshire but across the UK. But the support we have received from the public has provided a much-needed boost."

Liberty House submitted the required letter of intent to Tata Steel Europe with a bid for the entire issued share capital of Tata Steel UK on Tuesday.

The 12-strong team is led by Liberty executive chairman Sanjeev Gupta and includes ex-Tata Steel director Jon Bolton.

A statement by the group said its green business model would see a transition from steelmaking in blast furnaces to recycling steel in electric arc furnaces.

Behind Excalibur Steel's bid is Stuart Wilkie, who runs Tata's UK strip steel operations. He said: "This project has made enormous advances in a very short period.

"We believe we have a large number of the pieces in place required to make this a success, including a management team with vast experience of steelmaking and processing.

"We are confident we can turn the business around and sustain profitable steelmaking in the UK."

And the Albion Steel bid is led by Tony Pedder, a former chief executive of Corus, which Tata bought in 2007.

Mr Williamson said the interest from all three looked promising - but an air of caution was needed at this early stage.

"At the moment, it's still at the speculative stage," he added. "Tata's board meeting is in a couple of weeks.

"We welcome any prospective buyers who can provide a sustainable future for Rotherham and Stocksbridge.

"All three appear credible but for the workers, there has to be an air of caution at this stage."

Tata declined to comment on the sales process.