Just stumbled across this article in the Guardian. Don't have any memory of this game - was away at Uni at the time. I must have watched it on TV I guess. I do remember the Oxford match as was part of that rivalry we had with them that season. Blackburn v Manchester United: the Cup tie that made Mick Rathbone famous | Manchester United | The Guardian

That would be fine except RG has admitted incoming fees make no difference to the transfer budget.

If I have to...

Every Wednesday player is a free transfer, contracts expired due to non payment

Go get Yan Valery at Wednesday as Brittain's replacement. 26, 6ft+, athletic, few goals and assists, Premiership and Championship experience, Wednesday need money desperately. Bank £2.5m, spend £1m.

Fuck me. So our list of potential replacements is/was: Drameh X Al Sahafi X Right Winger - None identified X Baradji X Alleyne X Centre Back cover - None identified X Encouraging stuff

I'm sure JE has been onto Brittain and given him the big sell on Derby, no doubts there. But if he really wanted that move, and JE's got the backing of Derby's owners, why haven't they been back in for him? Not much point in waiting 3 weeks for Boro to get back in there.

What's the point? Get a good player, have a really good season, get close to the play offs. Then we just sell and don't even bother trying to improve. Pathetic.

Well highlighted. The club is an embarrassment quite frankly.

I know nothing whatsoever about it but Im guessing he would prefer to go to Derby and team up with Eustace again, but Boro are offering more or what Rovers want so he might be forced to go there.

Bleak.

Some of us knew that the club's priority this summer was to (a) slash the wage bill further and (b) sell a few assets for decent cash to pay the bills. We've done the first, and now with a month to go are on to the second. The only other question now is whether they succumb to temptation and cash in on Trav/Tron as well. Probably another £5 million to liquidate there if they really want it.

Not if Derby don't stump up a deal acceptable to Rovers. Would be amazed if Brittain and Eustace haven't had a tete-a-tete! Don't think it's a case of 'holding out' - can't do anything unless a club comes up with a deal Rovers prepared to accept.

For the club to turn this window around, we need to make both RW and CM signings permanent (with substantial fees) and contract renewals for either Travis and Tronstad...Wake me up please.

Officially it is to make the accounts more accurate. Of course the reduction of profit/creation of a loss could prove to be handy…

To be fair, how many players have we signed over the years that we've been "linked" with.

It's all not pursuing a deal. Haven't made an offer. That typifies rovers

Let's crank it up and get them all gone this season!

I’m very much enjoying the ‘links mean nothing’ defence from one of the forums most prolific poster of links.

Can we get a laughter emoji alongside the thumbs up option. There's too much to laugh at at this club and forum needs a bit of it!

Work is incredibly hard to come by as a Manager in the upper leagues, there will always be people willing to take a chance. Same with us not matter how far we sink.

Grim reading that. I'm sure we've got players lined up but of what quality they are and how quickly we get them done is an unknown!

I was about to post this. To summarise, Brittain on the way out, Drameh not likely to be in our budget, and basically nobody we have been linked with lately looks like coming. Another CB only seen as a 'maybe', whereas personally I consider it a must, as we were already looking for one before we did the Batth out McCloughlin in move, and before Carter's fresh injury. Doesn't make for joyous reading.

What does that achieve? Does it not make the balance sheet look weaker to banks for loans, with less assets relative to debts? Or is it designed to create a 'loss' and reduce tax bills?

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25355831.blackburn-rovers-blow-middlesbrough-return-brittain/ Middlesbrough are advancing in talks to sign Blackburn Rovers star Callum Brittain with a growing expectation that a deal will be struck, The Lancashire Telegraph understands. The Teessiders, along with Derby County, saw a bid knocked back three weeks ago, which led to Brittain refusing to play against Accrington Stanley. However, Brittain has reintegrated into the squad since and featured in the last three pre-season friendlies against Everton, Qatar SC and Elche. He was in with the group as expected on Wednesday for training and an internal media day, whilst Thursday is a routine day off for the players before they travel to Holland. Rovers have been insistent that Brittain will not leave unless their valuation is met. Whilst Boro's interest had cooled, they have now stepped up talks this week with an agreement growing closer, as reported first by journalist Pete O'Rourke. Brittain's departure would be a major blow to Rovers, just more than a week out from the season opener at West Brom. Though they have immediate cover in the form of Ryan Alebiosu and Kristi Montgomery, fans would expect to see a more experienced and proven right-back at the level to replace Brittain. The Lancashire Telegraph understands that Rovers have compiled a list of potential replacements for those players who could leave this summer. That is standard at any club and it's important that Blackburn have contingency plans throughout the squad. Cody Drameh was a player that Rovers enquired about earlier in the transfer window but he is not thought to be an active target. The club did not progress with talks after that first contact and aren't expected to. In terms of arrivals, The LT understands Rovers haven't made an offer to sign Saudi Arabian winger Marwan Al-Sahafi. The 21-year-old's name has been constantly mentioned in reports linking him with a move to Ewood Park. Al-Sahafi was a player Blackburn Rovers discussed in May, but nothing advanced, as reported at the time. The forward was then spotted in Manchester last month, further fuelling the expectation he could be a Rovers player. However, that had nothing to do with a potential move to Blackburn and it's unknown why he was in the UK. Rovers have not held any discussions or progressed with a deal for Al-Sahafi since initial enquiries were made in May. Similarly, the club are not pursuing a deal for young Manchester City centre-back, Max Alleyne. Rovers' had reportedly made an enquiry this week but he is not thought to be someone on their radar. Watford are reportedly the frontrunners for his signature. As reported, right-wing and attacking midfield are priorities. The club have not ruled out additions in the loan market but would prefer to sign players permanently in a bid to develop assets. There is no further development on a deal to sign Moussa Baradji from Yverdon Sport FC Rovers are looking at potential centre-back options after Hayden Carter's injury. Scott Wharton also has to be managed and so Valerien Ismael has admitted that another defender could arrive.