Yuki is starting at number 9 for Japan in a World Cup qualifier against Australia. Kick off is 12.10 pm our ime.

So many managers failing up these days based on data obsessed geeks looking at possession as more important than points and owners who want to mimic Pep so they can sell to clubs who obsess about the former.

I don't know if they can do BCD for competitive matches, but in the last few years the likes of Bristol City and West Ham have had their women's teams play at their training grounds as standard. Is Brockhall set up for hosting spectators? Maybe something at UCLan? Seems York City and Durham Cestrians in Rovers's new division play on university facilities.

They used to play on Griffin park.

The Rolling Stones - Some Girls

Wait it only costs £2k to hire out that stadium for a match?!

They'll just make them play behind closed doors at the training ground.

Just send them up Pleasy.

In this whole sorry saga I wonder if they have got a ground to play their home matches on. Last season Ewood was used (I'm sure I read there was a financial inducement to do so) but I can't see it being used now given the status they have been dropped to. Hiring another ground can be expensive. I know that a few years ago it was £2k per match to use the LFA facility in Leyland. I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if it's something they hadn't thought of.

Few of those sound like 5 a side/pub quiz team names.

At least there's the massive derby clash against Chorley.

I've always suspected that this was a decisive factor in them purchasing the club in the first place. What we're seeing now, the offloading of anyone who has any experience and thus commands a higher wager to be replaced by cheap novices was started from the second they turned up. First the sacking of big sam, then paying players 80% of their contracts to leave immediately all in the name of "cutting the wage bill". Suspiciously though the losses skyrocketed to beyond 40 million. Now they're under investigation for financial reasons and are struggling to send money over. This investigation has been brought on by much more than just the unpaid tax on a house. Whatever they were doing all those years has been rumbled and they're very cautious about making any moves. It's not unreasonable to specilate that their reluctance to sell os driven by a desire to keep things hidden that would otherwise be unearthed as part of the sale process. At the end of the day none of us know what's happening so it's best to keep an open mind.

AI wrote this. Usually it showcases the intelligence of the average Burnley supporter but in this case the last sentence is interesting. If true then we should be glad of a truely awful transfer window :-) Enjoy! Blackburn Rovers' future under Venky's ownership remains uncertain, but here are some key factors that could impact any potential sale: 1. Financial Situation - Venky’s have limited investment capacity due to ongoing financial issues in India. - The club operates within EFL financial fair play constraints, limiting spending. 2. Fan Pressure & Ownership Commitment - Fans have repeatedly called for a change in ownership, especially after funding cuts to Blackburn Rovers Women’s team. - Despite frustrations, Venky’s insist they remain committed, though that doesn’t rule out an eventual sale. 3. Potential Buyers - So far, no confirmed takeover bids have been reported. - The club’s status as a historical but Championship-level team may make it less attractive to high-profile investors. - A sale would require substantial investment to re-establish Blackburn as a Premier League club. 4. League Performance & Future Ambitions - If Blackburn Rovers achieve promotion to the Premier League, Venky’s could be more inclined to hold onto the club due to increased revenues. - A continued stay in the Championship might strengthen the argument for selling, particularly if financial struggles persist

I've never bought into the saving face line either. I've said on here previously that I've worked with teams in India for years now and generally there is very little pride in their work. When the going gets tough, or their work starts getting questioned, they just cut all comms for as long as possible and bury their heads in the sand. They can hide easier, as they are on the other side of the world. I've never seen anything, in 10 years+, that suggests there is a huge worry about what others think of them or their work. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Don't know whether this has been asked before but is it possible there is a link between the potential change to PSR linking wage spend to turnover and the lack of significant contract extensions beyond the end of this coming season? If there is then surely there is an increased cursive of Brittain, Tronstad, Hyam etc getting sold this summer?

I referenced the fact the money they invest is loose change. I’m speculating that there is also an element of pride at play. I don’t buy the grand conspiracy nonsense.

Yeah, I referenced the you/know-who in my post. Fergie said the club was being run by agents after allardyce was sacked. I don’t think anyone disagrees. My point about the conspiracy was in relation to why they haven’t sold the club. Money laundering, tax evasion, asset stripping and the usual reasons make no sense and there’s no evidence. So what’s left? Just the mundane reason that Rovers is just a hobby for some very very rich people who can afford to keep the club running and beyond that have no real plan or ambition for BRFC.

The Villa replay…

The previous round…

If only we had owners like that. Although they can fuck off with their idea to play domestic games abroad. It will happen though sooner rather than later.

Great article. What we wouldn’t give for someone like Tom Wagner at the helm.

Considering the number of defunct companies they have it seems failure is quite regular and the ONLY thing they are good at is the core business and a few of its offshoots.

Chalk and cheese - a 'can do' attitude compared to an endless stream of excuses under successive executives at Rovers. These owners are the main reason we can't do very much, never have and never will, and will be left behind by any club with even a modicum of ambition.

Our Women's team starting Venky's reign of terror at the top table of English women's football and 15 years into it being in the same division as the second best team in Durham really does sum the whole wretched affair up.

I think another narrative has been, it is the only thing they have ever failed at and they want to get it right. That's also a load of nonsense too, in my view.