I do like VI's media persona. Never warmed to JE.

Just heard on the Talksport News that Tyler Morton is going to Lyon (I think they said) for £15m!!!!! That's at least £14m more than he's worth imo. Really poor player in my book.

Maybe they just meant close (in proximity) to a new contract, as Pasha had sneaked one under his mattress

He looks pretty ordinary to me. Another one who can run a bit, tackle a bit, head it, have a shot from time to time, look busy. if he wasn’t English nobody would be commenting on him. Wharton is twice the player he is. Wharton can make things happen.

If they never had any real intention of creating the role for which the Charity money was intended then I'd say it is a Police matter. Smacks of using the Charity money instead of their own to pay for another job entirely that they needed filling. Up to you. Sounds like exactly the sort of stroke the 2nd hand car salesman would have pulled.

Don't worry. Hyam was "close" to signing a new contract at least 3 weeks ago now.......

You are quite right, there are people working very hard at the club. The problem is those with most power cannot be trusted. A veiled threat was sent out recently suggesting that people will be warned and even banned if they say the wrong thing on social media. Its a case of accept what we are doing whether you like it or not, often forgetting that the fans are the lifeblood of the club. In many cases, fans who have been around for many years before them and will still be here after they have gone.

I know I wonder how long it will be before Rovers renew the contracts of 3 first team players contracts in under a month again? Even 3 in a season seems fanciful

Thanks. Absolutely insane the way this club is run.

When is the next fans forum and are there any objections to those of us not in the circle of silence attending givens Glens comments above?

Isn't the main point that we have yet another manager starting to express concerns about the underlying broken approach - these are perhaps the first salvoes in the barrage that will ultimately drive a sufficiently large hole in VI's relationship with the club to justify his (inevitable) departure, once again under a gagging clause that prevents anything meaningful coming to light about how stupidly (dis)organised we are behind the scenes as a club. That's how I read his utterances anyway. Probably best to focus on what happens ON the pitch for the time being, because that is where the immediate future of BRFC is to be decided. The back room stuff is just noise and distraction to stop us knowing what is really going on here (which is perfectly well summarised in many of the pages preceding this). Oh for a leader like Kenny, oh for a chairman like John, oh for the days when we won stuff, oh but those days are long gone... Oh for winger like handbag, oh for a striker like Al; oh for some matchday excitement, oh for the stands to be full...Oh for defenders like Samba, oh for Si Garner on fire, oh what has happened to Ewood, oh don't we all like a trier? Oh for a goalie with bottle, oh for a change can't we trust? Oh for fucks sake what a shit-show, oh for some wankers we're lost. VENKYS OUT!

Wharton December 2023 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67665036 The last one who is still here (aside from Ribiero) was Pickering, the same week - https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/december/07/pickering-pens-new-deal-/ And Szmodics was the week before Then they sidelined & sacked Broughton, presumably for being proactive wasting money

What was the last first team contract we renewed? (Riberio aside) I seem to remember reading it was back in 2023 but can't remember which player it was?

He possibly/probably isn't, it is (an was) likely probably Pasha who has the ultimate say so However, if that is the case then Gestede is still culpable, as he has in effect, just provided a human shield for Pasha to hide behind

Stop moaning and get behind the ladz FFS! What do you want, to win the Premier League?

Yes the club deserves lots of credit for hastily arranging an overseas game on the basis home fans are allowed in to watch but away fans are banned (for no good reason) but at least Rovers announced 30 minutes before kick off that we could watch it on YouTube. Brilliant that.

Exactly, Gested was in charge of contracts 1 year ago and still is now. Total bollocks being spoken by Ismael unless he now has the power to do the deals himself.

Miller is currently injured and has been for a few weeks so that might be a reason. No way will he stick Henriksson straight in either.

That sounds pretty reasonable. Not sure about West Ham though - suspect they may get dragged into the relegation scrap.

Ismael pretty much confirming what a few of us have been saying all along, that these players constantly queuing up to walk despite seemingly being very happy here WOULD have signed if they'd had decent offers early enough and been treated like they were valued here. Not all but some would and what we need to know is who is really accountable for this ? No doubt the hints are laying at Waggots door and him and Suhail are the constants in this so it's one or both of them, my money is on BOTH.

Premier League table is dully predictable yet most games are extremely competitive. The table writes itself even with two weeks to go to kick off and a month of the transfer window to go: Champions Liverpool or Arsenal- both are significantly strengthened Champions League City and Chelsea - both have too many ? to be obvious title winners European places scrap Brighton if they are only average on the injuries front (they lost nearly twice as many minutes as the second most injured squad last season) Spurs - better manager and some decent signings United - Cunha and Buemo are too hot in combination for the scum to have as bad a season again Forest, Villa and Newcastle - underwhelming transfer business but enough strength in depth Could join the European places scrap with a good season and refs not being biased against them Bournemouth, Fulham, West Ham, Palace Relegation fight (and I think it could be a proper fight to avoid the drop for the first time for a few seasons) Burnley, Leeds, Sunderland, Everton, Wolves, Brentford - the promoted teams have done good business and the other three haven't.

He’s been here 14 months. Not taken him long to get on board with the complete BS that emanates from this regime.

Weird week ahead. Knowing us, the two players to be signed today won't happen and will drag on. Might have said good bye to Brittain (certain), Pears, Travis and Buckley before we go to West Brom plus some youngsters out on loan. Gut feeling we will have a wild card incoming. Perhaps Mercer on the wing?

Given the SPL season has already started, I can't see any reason for Miller not coming straight into the side. Ditto Henriksson coming from mid-season Sweden who could be preferred over Hedges. Expecting the unexpected in the starting line up. Kargbo and Gueye coming on in the 60th minute is pretty certain though.

1. Winners of the Championship Ipswich 2. Automatic promotion (runners-up) in the Championship Southampton 3. Four Play off semi-finalists in the Championship Leicester City, Sheffield Utd, Middlesbrough, Coventry City 4. Three relegated sides from the Championship Sheffield Weds, Hull City, Oxford Utd 5. Where will Rovers finish in the Championship? 18th 6. First Championship club to change manager (after the season starts) Sheffield Weds 7. Winners of the Premier League Arsenal 8. A notable wild card prediction of something that will happen in the Rovers universe during the season (e.g. Donald Trump visits Ewood Park) Valerien Ismael is NOT the manager by 1st March 2026