A RADICAL campaign to encourage support for beleaguered Rover was launched at Fleet Show 2000 aimed at key fleet buyers and decision-makers who will decide the future success of the brand. The Friends of Rover Group will recruit supporters from the manufacturer's dealer network and aims to provide a positive image to fleets and retail buyers about the future of the brand.

Using a new internet site - www.rover-friends.co.uk - the aim is to swap ideas and make sure that all those involved with Rover are pulling together in a common cause. Supporters' badges are being sold at £1 each to fund the campaign and among customers have been ACE Vehicle Deliveries. It is estimated that membership will hit 20,000 members in the network alone.

Patrick Daly, fleet sales manager for Wicliffe Rover, who launched the campaign, said: 'I want to keep the Rover brand alive, but more importantly, I want to keep alive 20,000 jobs in dealerships, 50,000 supplier jobs and 20,000 Rover jobs. We have had incredible support since the announcement of the sale and I came to the Fleet Show to launch this campaign because this is where a lot of our customers are. 'It is something we have to do to make sure we sell cars, because the tragic thing is Rover is now building the best cars it has ever produced.'