WATR (The Rovers Trust)

[Mike E]

51 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Still struggling to understand why being communicated more of Swag’s lies and deceptions would be a positive…

Exactly. It wasn’t a positive having to hear Steve K***’s bullshit every other fucking day.

On the other hand, while it was rarely through official club channels, I quite enjoyed hearing Broughton speak. Usually on some podcast or other.

[Leonard Venkhater]

32 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Exactly. It wasn’t a positive having to hear Steve K***’s bullshit every other fucking day.

On the other hand, while it was rarely through official club channels, I quite enjoyed hearing Broughton speak. Usually on some podcast or other.

I couldn't go that far. Too many management buzzwords for me..

[Lancaster Rover]

I think the communication line is absolute bollocks. Like any private company I don’t expect to be consulted on every decision. What I do expect though is that competent people are employed to carry out the requisite tasks in running a football club. I can then concentrate on the primary purpose of a football club, what happens on the pitch. 
 

The 2 are inextricably linked, however we’ll run clubs don’t need to communicate much. 

[RoverDom]

When we finished 7th and had a couple of good cup runs and then all of a sudden the aim of the club was survival in the championship- we needed good communication to understand what had happened and why, albeit it would have gone down like a cup of cold sick. But rather than be upfront with it us it was up to supporters to piece it together. 

 

However when Eustace left, what does communication do? "Yeah so basically, we promised John a transfer budget and only gave him freebies and loans, then refused to back him in January despite sitting 5th and we wouldn't entertain an new contract for him. Ultimately John left because of this and the toxic atmosphere at the club because of the weird management structure. We appointed VI because he's one of the few managers who would agree to come and also be a nodding yes man" 

 

[glen9mullan]

Taking on board some comments and discussions, as a paid up WATR member I've put my name forwards for the forthcoming elections, to hopefully aid WATR growth. 

Hopefully others will follow suit, 

[glen9mullan]

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25129987.blackburns-explanation-trusts-lapsed-fans-claim/

Don't seem to be going away this,

A clarification statement from the trust needed I think , as this being spun to make WATR the bad guys in all this.

 

[Lancaster Rover]

I’ve only just caught up with this and it reads to me very much like the guy did say what’s he’s paraphrased as saying. Basically new/young fans are easy and a quick win, lapsed fans are difficult and requires to have uncomfortable questions that we don’t want to have to answer. 
 

He just doesn’t appear to like being called out on what he said and the context in which it was said.

I think this is just a powerplay to give an excuse to stop engagement with WATR 

Edited May 1 by Lancaster Rover

[TugaysMarlboro]

"Then the penny dropped, it clicked, what was actually said, and the context behind it."

Followed by Yasir not saying what was actually said or the context behind it.

[DE.]

Sometimes context does change the nature of quotes. Sometimes it doesn't. We would need to know the full details to make a judgement. WATR is one of the most risk-averse and historically club-friendly supporters' groups we have, though, so seems odd that they would try to smear a club employee with an out-of-context quote. 

[Upside Down]

The smart move would be for WATR to give context to what was said.

This is just more diversion tactics from the club. WATR need to stand up for themselves here.

[Herbie6590]

8 hours ago, Upside Down said:

The smart move would be for WATR to give context to what was said.

This is just more diversion tactics from the club. WATR need to stand up for themselves here.

WATR need to reboot completely after their AGM…hopefully that will create new momentum & purpose.

[Bronzed A Donis]

It might have been taken out of context. It might be they are seizing on the results to push PR to change narratives. Nowhere in the whole article does he say how or what hes doing for lapsed fans, that's quite telling considering the accusation.

Irrespective,  it's too difficult to reengage with lapsed fans, kids are the low hanging fruit is very much reflective of our easy option always being taken.

He's been in charge of engagement for a while now and whilst he should be applauded on the Ewood Express and attempts to get kids in. I've seen no attempts to re-engage with lapsed fans and after a few years actions speak louder than a defence of a possible misquote. It would have been nice for him to say, we realise we've lost around 10k fans and my priority is to get these people back AND grow new supporters. But you know, that would involve his paymasters actively wanting this.

Edited May 2 by Bronzed A Donis
Added a line

[Mattyblue]

At least he wants to engage young fans, I suppose, his predecessor didn’t as kids don’t like live football and would rather have a Rovers NFT or something.

Maybe one day we’ll have a marketing team that wants to engage all fans, be novel, wouldn’t it…

[glen9mullan]

5 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

At least he wants to engage young fans, I suppose, his predecessor didn’t as kids don’t like live football and would rather have a Rovers NFT or something.

Maybe one day we’ll have a marketing team that wants to engage all fans, be novel, wouldn’t it…

I think one of his major issues is "the victim card" he keeps playing.

If you're a concerned supporter, rather than understand the concerns he automatically calls you a negative supporter, and then evolves the negative script in his own mind to deflect his own inability to do the new role he was given.

I will take my season ticket for an example. Had I not promised my daughter I'd get her one, then there is no way I'd of renewed. There isn't a single reason the hierarchy has given me that I can wholeheartedly say gives me any confidence that I trust a single word they say.

Their ignorance to supporters who literally bleed blue and white is scandalous. 

It's becoming a dictatorship rather than an entity built on democracy and integrity 

[lraC]

2 hours ago, glen9mullan said:

I think one of his major issues is "the victim card" he keeps playing.

If you're a concerned supporter, rather than understand the concerns he automatically calls you a negative supporter, and then evolves the negative script in his own mind to deflect his own inability to do the new role he was given.

I will take my season ticket for an example. Had I not promised my daughter I'd get her one, then there is no way I'd of renewed. There isn't a single reason the hierarchy has given me that I can wholeheartedly say gives me any confidence that I trust a single word they say.

Their ignorance to supporters who literally bleed blue and white is scandalous. 

It's becoming a dictatorship rather than an entity built on democracy and integrity 

I truly believe this is exactly what seemingly lying about who he supports, is important.

Like you, I also bleed blue and white, which is exactly why it hurts so much seeing the people who are actively destroying the club.

If a real supporter, who cares for the club, like it is a living breathing entity, was trying to repair the damage done over the last 15 years,, the last thing they would be doing, is creating a rift between yourself  like minded people.

You would engage with them properly and  encourage them to join in with efforts of bringing back the lapsed fans, find a reason to Re- engage and also perhaps find a way (if these is one) of apologising for some the the wrong doing and show that lessons, really have been learned and that the future of the club, really does matter.

[Hasta]

https://www.roverstrust.com/news/statement-blackburn-rovers-women

"We had been in dialogue with club executives about the future of our Women’s team as per our memorandum of understanding, but were only given 10 minutes notice prior to the announcement."

We call upon the Board and Owners of Blackburn Rovers to think again and have serious discussions with ourselves as to how the Club (Men’s and Women’s teams) have a viable and competitive future.’

Honestly lads, I'm a WATR member but they clearly don't want to have the relationship with you that you want from them.

You can call on them to have serious discussions time after time, but they won't. They see their minimal discussion with you as a box-ticking and appeasement exercise, to be shown as an example of engagement.

Quote

"By transitioning into a lower tier, the club can continue to support competitive football in a structure that is community-based and financially viable"

This quote from the Rovers website statement on women's football reflects the whole approach of this regime to the club over the last few years. There surely comes a day when you have to draw a line. Join the coalition. 

Edited 3 hours ago by Hasta

[Devon Rover]

26 minutes ago, Hasta said:

https://www.roverstrust.com/news/statement-blackburn-rovers-women

"We had been in dialogue with club executives about the future of our Women’s team as per our memorandum of understanding, but were only given 10 minutes notice prior to the announcement."

We call upon the Board and Owners of Blackburn Rovers to think again and have serious discussions with ourselves as to how the Club (Men’s and Women’s teams) have a viable and competitive future.’

Honestly lads, I'm a WATR member but they clearly don't want to have the relationship with you that you want them to have.

You can call on them to have serious discussions time after time but they won't. They see minimal discussion with you as a box-ticking and appeasement exercise, to be shown as an example of engagement.

This quote from the Rovers website reflect the whole approach of this regime to the club over the last few years. There surely comes a day when you have to draw a line. Join the coalition. 

I agree. The WATR statements do come across as "meek" and somewhat like a jilted lover telling their friends about how their cruel and bullying ex doesn't talk to them anymore, whilst pleading with the same ex for better communication and respect in their 'relationship', rather than just calling out the ex for the insufferable shit they are. It feels a bit sad to read and definitely doesn't seem to carry any impact, whatsoever. But I might be missing it so I'm genuinely happy to hear what people think the statements are achieving.

Edited 6 hours ago by Devon Rover

[Penwortham Blue]

5 hours ago, Hasta said:

https://www.roverstrust.com/news/statement-blackburn-rovers-women

"We had been in dialogue with club executives about the future of our Women’s team as per our memorandum of understanding, but were only given 10 minutes notice prior to the announcement."

We call upon the Board and Owners of Blackburn Rovers to think again and have serious discussions with ourselves as to how the Club (Men’s and Women’s teams) have a viable and competitive future.’

Honestly lads, I'm a WATR member but they clearly don't want to have the relationship with you that you want from them.

You can call on them to have serious discussions time after time, but they won't. They see their minimal discussion with you as a box-ticking and appeasement exercise, to be shown as an example of engagement.

This quote from the Rovers website statement on women's football reflects the whole approach of this regime to the club over the last few years. There surely comes a day when you have to draw a line. Join the coalition. 

Couldn’t agree more, I am a Trust / WATR member and it is time the Board woke up and smell the coffee ! No more critical friend and sound bites and thinking about calling for action or ST boycotts or whatever, join the coalition and start trying to get this lot out of our club. Enough is enough.