I was told by a family member of a first teamer that he massively wrecked the morale of the first team during the second half of JDT's first season, when he let it be known he was releasing anyone on big money and selling anyone worth anything. Whether it was true or not that Waggott was to blame I don't know but everything they said came true. They also said he was trying to sell Adam Wharton to Newcastle for a shockingly low amount but Wharton wouldn't go.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/may/22/club-statement--steve-waggott/

Even if by some miracle they decided to replace Waggott with a competent external CEO rather than promote the work experience guy from within, ask yourselves who is going to come in and work at an organisation whereby Pasha is technically subordinate to the CEO but practically is the head honcho as he is the only one with a connection to India and has their ear. It's just a ridiculous and laughable situation. Unworkable even if they decided to recruit a proper CEO, which they won't because those cost and will need assurances. Easier and cheaper just to muddle on with the chuckle brothers and hope it works out ok. Unacceptable in professional football.

Devil's advocate mode: Even if that DID happen, how could it be any worse than Waggott?

Weimann is a reliable off the bencher for me, some great clinch goals and evident of it. A useful player in my book

No fan of Waggott and glad that he's gone - but definitely concerned this is just Suhail tightening his grip on the club, particularly if lap dog Gestede is promoted to CEO.

Agreed.Work experience Gestede moving up and still stuck with Pascha and our owners

The tone of that statement i.e. lack of content makes me think he's been pushed out, possibly due to the national and international headlines from the Women's team situation? Maybe told Suhail and the Venkys it would be fine, but they've actually been embarrassed with the coverage and he's taken the blame for it.

The length of that statement surely speaks volumes. Only worry is that it’s lined up for Rudy

Good news. Now do Suhail.

There will be no shortage of takers for the new post because it's a high profile, high paying job. I hope they know what they're letting themselves in for when they start though because the club is a basket case. Ewood is going to end up a bear pit this season for anyone in the board room imo. Their name is just gonna end up added on to chants and banners about the owners, Pasha, et al

now the rats are liteally leaving a sinking ship...

That statement is as long as his list of achievements, tbh.

I've a feeling we won't be seeing any early signings now with Waggott seemingly off in a hurry

I always expected Waggott to bail when the shit was truly about to hit the fan and that until that day arrived he would hang on collecting his hefty salary. So hopefully the regimes collapse is imminent. Then again more likely in my opinion a convenient shuffle to cover for his retirement whilst putting out an impression of changes been made when we all know that won't really happen. It will still be business as usual upstairs and probably even more power for head stooge and his patsy Gestede. Give it a year or two and Gestede will be the sacrificial lamb when the pressure is building again.

Incredibly short statement might I add

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/may/22/club-statement--steve-waggott/

With Venkys at the helm Waggott had a pretty thankless job, be interesting to see what the next person can do.. or whether their hands are tied from the beggining. It won't be Gestede.. not possible.

Waggott's list of "achievements": Introduced the "match day tax" Affordable seating scrapped for the majority of his tenure. Tried to charge people for using Blues on matchday. Not sure if that was shelved? Increased season ticket prices during the pandemic by up to 25% for a season where no-one could attend reducing the ST base at that point to 2.5k. Unsuccessfully trying to flog off part of Brockhall no doubt costing the Club a load of money in the process. Two high profile January transfer deadline day collapses on his watch. In the most recent January window spent £20 k p.w. on a guy who hadn't kicked a ball for 10 months and who unsurprisingly barely kicked a ball for us. Two successive head coaches alienated to the extent where they walked out. The recent despicable decision regarding the women's team. I'm sure there's more.

Obviously, great news that Waggott has gone. Big concerns, however: Will Rudy just be moved into that role? Has Suhail basically chucked Waggott under the bus to save himself and is he now the sole wielder of power at the club?

Before the dawn, the darkest hour.

He was so far away from being a genuine football administrator but it's such a low bar at this club after Derek Shaw and co. I'll always see him as another chancer who took everything he could out and put very little back in. I'll also always see him as the reason JDT's first season was derailed along with Adam Wharton leaving. And he'd have left a lot cheaper if the kid hadn't dug his heels in, it wasn't Waggott holding out for more money.

Absolutely. Mirrors exactly how I feel about the club. Great appointment.

Trying to join the dots up and the timing of this and the media furore over the womens debacle I wonder if he has been offered up as the sacrificial lamb. He is an easy hit given his age. A nice fat NDA to enhance his retirement pot too The abrupt statement indicates this has happened really quickly.

Nah fuck him, absolute tosser. I’m joking obviously, great representative. Passionate, fair, dogged, and thorough.