Initially I agree that would be the case but the size of the fan bases would surely see significant investment from outside and that, along with the TV money, would surely see them be able to quickly improve? There are a lot of very rich people in the US who are proud of their Scottish roots - Donald Trump for example!!! The reality is they are two big clubs in a very big city that just happen to be in a poor national league.

Yep, and then "tested" through legal challenges/court cases etc

In my experience, most finalised legal documents end up with ‘holes’ in them. For these to remain unrectified year after year is what I take issue with.

Do Sky publish individual viewing figures for all these extra matches? If not, why not?

That's definitely true I just wondered if the reason for the rules being "fuzzy" was maybe to do with them being created by different depts./organisations

I did read that WIGton Harriers and THATCHam Town were interested but BARNET are expected to make a late bid.

Are the articles based on some insider knowledge or are they made up nonsense which our scouts read and think ‘we should take a look at him’? 🤔

I believe they are written by the FA (as the recognised Governing Body) but within guidelines set by (and subject to the approval of) The Home Office. The ESC players part in particular were, I think, a result of changes to immigration rules post Brexit.

a curiosity: 23. juni 2024 — Blackburn Rovers are showing interest in striker Augustus Kargo, who scored nine goals in the Italian third tier last season. The link to Kargbo appeared June 2024. He was signed deadline day January 2025. Very often are the players we end up first linked to us through very random articles

Were GBE work permits & esc regulations & requirements concocted & put into place by the FA? or the home office/civil servants etc Or some unholy alliance of the above? or different origins for each ?

My interpretation of the rules is that Miyoshi became an ESC player on 1st June (when the 2025/26 season is deemed to have began) and not when he made an appearance in Bundesliga 2. Other interpretations are available and the rules could be far clearer in this regard. I don’t know why they haven’t made League Quality points the same as some of the others in that if you qualify under two categories you get the points of the higher one.

Looks like his big move to Man Utd won't materialise 🙂 Joking apart there seems to be no takers for him, not even a rumour all summer so maybe he will be brought back into the fold once the window closes.

I am not convinced, anyone is going to be signed!

I think Miyoshi has come and gone to be honest. If they really wanted him then they would have probably moved for him before he played for his club this season. Baradji 100% happens when Trav is out of the door I think. The right winger will be someone that a club is desperate to get rid of in the last couple of days before the window.

I think, if he remains first choice, we should be able to convert Toth to a non ESC in January. The point I was trying to make was that playing fewer and fewer English players will eventually result in us only being able to have 2 ESC players at a time.

Is this available in short sleeve too?

That's Rovers for you. Fans think we can't do worse than X, Venkys say hold my beer. Seen it time after time. We definitely need a no 2 with some decent experience but bet we won't get one.

Most Millwall fans live in the outer London boroughs these days (likes of Bromley) and into Kent, an absolute faff trying to get to Blackburn for half 12… still, just get a hotel ay.

Giving them a few weeks notice doesn't make it right - the logistics make it really difficult for travelling supporters. Millwall fans travelling by train to Preston could catch the 07.11 from Euston. Firstly they would have to travel across London which will be around an hour from Lewisham. It gets into Preston at 10.51. The earlier train is 06.08 which will mean them leaving home at around 5 am I'm sure if you were a regular away match attendee and the changes had a direct effect on you you might think differently (at least I hope you would). PS sorry for so much detail but I'm just trying to emphasise my point to Chaddy who doesn't seem to grasp the issues this causes for genuine supporters.

I have a sinking feeling that this is going to be a long season of us chanting regularly from the sidelines, "You don't know what you're doing..." and not, as is the tradition, directing the remark at the ref 😞 WTF happened to a 'normal' set up of a 'manager' setting the agenda for the players he needs in his side to play a style and system that is his brainchild and operating within the financial constraints specified by the Board? Seems to me that all the sophistry, subterfuge and slight of hand that comes with a set up where an inexperienced and unqualified patsy uses his naive and paper thin judgment to dance to the tune of a thick as pigshit no-mark (also, by the way, dancing to someone else's tune) hiding behind a poorly constructed and intentionally impenetrable barricade, leads us nowhere but to a dead end. Dead end. Dead, End. What. The. Actual. Fuck???? VENKYS OUT! UNQUALIFIED AND DELUDED TEA-BOY PATSIES OUT! HIDING BEHIND SHITE BARRICADES MORONIC GOBSHITES WITH NO FOOTBALLING CREDENTIALS OUT! GRR!

That’s why I think there’s been a delay tbh, I don’t think the banked on needing two. The Miyoshi interest was weeks before he came on for Bochum. Baradji has always been their number 1 target so it’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out

What a surprise 🙄

It depends on who the "non esc" option is in both cases

Jesus Christ

Miyoshi as the need is greater on that position we simply can’t have hedges being the starting right winger offers next to nothing going forward - has his defensive capabilities but we need more attacking output