Boycott Or Not?

[chaddyrovers]

23 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Most years though, any Championship owner will incur a loss. Its par for the course and many people/groups are clearly willing to do it as you can see across the league. We seem to be the only club whose fans cherish the fact that ours do something they have no choice in, and misinterpret or at least suggest its something they choose to do.

Its all depends what type of new owners you would get and people would be very wary and uncertain which would be natural until you know their background, their plans for . Like I would be against someone like Mike Ashley owning us. I took interest in who Sheffield Wednesday preferred bid would be and the groups interested in the club. 

23 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

A club run properly could definitely reduce those losses, we now seemingly have another rookie idiot in Yasir Sufi overseeing that area. Selling the club would naturally cause a spike in interest in terms of ticket sales anyway, which could then be improved further by a competent man overseeing the commercial side. Venkys have never found anyone.

Yes you could lower ST prices and match day tickets but your money from them would be roughly the same, yes a better atmosphere in the ground and given that Sodexo runs the concourse outlet, you wouldn't get additional revenue from them or the foot outlets outside the BBE either. So bring in more sponsorship to the club is the biggest way

[JHRover]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

Its all depends what type of new owners you would get and people would be very wary and uncertain which would be natural until you know their background, their plans for . Like I would be against someone like Mike Ashley owning us. I took interest in who Sheffield Wednesday preferred bid would be and the groups interested in the club. 

Yes you could lower ST prices and match day tickets but your money from them would be roughly the same, yes a better atmosphere in the ground and given that Sodexo runs the concourse outlet, you wouldn't get additional revenue from them or the foot outlets outside the BBE either. So bring in more sponsorship to the club is the biggest way

Interesting. So you would oppose Mike Ashley owning us - a man who had Newcastle as one of the most profitable and financially stable clubs in the country, and due to his financial management attracted the Saudis to buy them, and would rather continue with the current disgrace where we - somehow - continue to lose an 8 figure sum every year as we circle the plughole to oblivion and the club decays.

There is a big inconvenience to the 'who would buy us?' brigade - there's zero evidence to support those claims (except that people don't - and won't - ever publicise interest in buying something that isn't for sale - yet there is plenty of evidence that shows that Championship loss making football clubs ALWAYS attract new owners. Some good, some bad, some rich, some not as rich - but clubs change hands with regularity and I think you could count those that rival Venkys for appalling mismanagement on one hand. 

Edited yesterday at 22:56 by JHRover

[chaddyrovers]

20 minutes ago, JHRover said:

Interesting. So you would oppose Mike Ashley owning us - a man who had Newcastle as one of the most profitable and financially stable clubs in the country, and due to his financial management attracted the Saudis to buy them, and would rather continue with the current disgrace where we - somehow - continue to lose an 8 figure sum every year as we circle the plughole to oblivion and the club decays.

Yet Newcastle fans hated Mike Ashley as owner and here 10 reasons why they did

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/newcastle-united-mike-ashley-worst-moments-owner-fan-supporter-relationship-joe-kinnear-alen-pardew-alan-shearer

Our club shop would be Sports direct outlet like what happened at Rangers FC

 

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-sports-direct-partnership-ends-21962650

Maybe think about this one again. 

[London blue]

I'd rather be owned by a Mike Ashley than be the sports washing public front of a tyrannical middle Eastern state.

Judging by your thoughts on eligibility to host the World Cup Chaddy, I'm assuming you'd be more than willing to turn a blind eye to major human rights infringements if it meant throwing some blood money about?

[JHRover]

17 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Yet Newcastle fans hated Mike Ashley as owner and here 10 reasons why they did

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/newcastle-united-mike-ashley-worst-moments-owner-fan-supporter-relationship-joe-kinnear-alen-pardew-alan-shearer

Our club shop would be Sports direct outlet like what happened at Rangers FC

 

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-sports-direct-partnership-ends-21962650

Maybe think about this one again. 

We had Sports Direct running the Ewood shop when the Walker Trust owned us. Don't you remember the Lonsdale days?

To be honest if the biggest worry is the state of the club shop it's not a big issue

Personally I'm not really interested in what Newcastle fans think. If he'd have splashed cash like they wanted the Saudis probably wouldn't have been interested in buying them as a loss making/debt ridden club. 

I don't need to think about it again. I can say without any shred of doubt that I'd welcome a proper businessman with a brain like Mike Ashley over the poison that has ruined Blackburn Rovers. If that means having 'sports direct' boards around Ewood rather than mouldy 'Venkys' ones fine by me.

Edited 23 hours ago by JHRover

[Upside Down]

3 hours ago, JPTSwindon said:

My issue with boycotting is I just can't see an alternative (rich) owner on the horizon.  We aren't a sleeping giant, our catchment area is crowded and for all Venky's failings they have sunk £230m+ in for absolutely no return which will worry potential investors.

Now, if they were refusing to sell to a serious, rich owner then fair enough (which in some clubs cases is what was happening).

To stay at this level we need circa £20-£30m to stand still - I just can't see alternatives at the moment.

I'm sorry but you're taking bollocks here. 

We're one of only SEVEN clubs to have won the league since 1992. 

Founder members of the football league, tenth most successful club in the country.

We haven't had 20-30 million for the last few years and would have finished in the playoffs at least if it wasn't for the owners deliberately sabotaging any and all chances of it happening. 

After 15 long years of venky destruction we can still shift 9000 massively overpriced season tickets. The support is there.

The losses are only as big as they are due to venkys actions. Besides, every other championship club is in the same boat regarding this. 

[roversfan99]

5 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Its all depends what type of new owners you would get and people would be very wary and uncertain which would be natural until you know their background, their plans for . Like I would be against someone like Mike Ashley owning us. I took interest in who Sheffield Wednesday preferred bid would be and the groups interested in the club. 

Yes you could lower ST prices and match day tickets but your money from them would be roughly the same, yes a better atmosphere in the ground and given that Sodexo runs the concourse outlet, you wouldn't get additional revenue from them or the foot outlets outside the BBE either. So bring in more sponsorship to the club is the biggest way

Mike Ashley would be considerably more preferable to the cunts that own us now. And obviously he isnt the only alternative.

If you disagree, even armed with a fourfourtwo article of 10 reasons why Newcastle fans didnt like him, then you havent paid enough attention over the past 15 years.

I feel like you still dont fully appreciate quite how bad Venkys are.

[MarkBRFC]

9 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Yet Newcastle fans hated Mike Ashley as owner and here 10 reasons why they did

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/newcastle-united-mike-ashley-worst-moments-owner-fan-supporter-relationship-joe-kinnear-alen-pardew-alan-shearer

Our club shop would be Sports direct outlet like what happened at Rangers FC

 

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-sports-direct-partnership-ends-21962650

Maybe think about this one again. 

You don't want Mike Ashley because of what Newcastle fans thought of him.

Yet in the other thread when pointed out to you that Hull had McLoughlin sussed out when they moved him from centre back to left back because he isnt very good in the middle you "weren't interested" in what they thought.

Make it up as you go along you do.

Mike Ashley would be 100 times better than this shit show we have now.

[Upside Down]

I would fly back to England and drive Mike Ashley to Ewood personally if it guaranteed us being rid of venkys. 

[Herbie6590]

On 24/12/2025 at 21:45, J*B said:

We seem to still be overlooking the biggest argument to be made to anyone not willing to miss one home game.

”Name one thing that has improved in the 15 years of Venky’s ownership?”

They can’t answer. Because there isn’t an improvement. Think about that. For 15 years things have either got worse or not improved - which given advancements over the 15 years - is actually a net negative.

If you can’t miss one home game after 15 years of no improvement then unfortunately you will never see the light.

This does end, eventually. It’s simply a case of the speed of the demise now. There’s 10,000 people missing. The standards are dropping. The results are trending down. We either force their hands, or let them do it themselves. 

If you want it to be quick and painful then don’t spend a penny. No season tickets, no merchandise, no TV match passes. 

If you want it to be long and excruciating continue going and spending your money. 

Just seen this on the hellsite…

[Mattyblue]

STs were hiked for kids, compare to PNE where U11s go free, for example.

The number of Asian supporters in the ground is still very low when you consider the demographics of the town.

…but still those pitches at Brockhall, what was John Williams playing at previously with those Ribble Valley mud baths.

Edited 13 hours ago by Mattyblue

[wilsdenrover]

Mike Ashley buying the club from Jack Walker, no thank you

Mike Ashley buying the club from Venkys, yes please

 

[J*B]

41 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

Just seen this on the hellsite…

FoodTechMan is insane - I’m not sure he’s a real person - but even still, give him those 3 (even though I can make arguments against the second two), if that’s 15 years of progress then there should be riots on the streets nevermind a one game boycott. 

[davulsukur]

Mike Ashley would be preferable to Venkys but in reality we don't want him as our owner either.

For all their financial stability, Newcastle were the laughing stock of English football under him, with a constant stream of ridiculous decisions and like us under Venkys, no matter how much things calm down for a period of time, you know the owners are waiting in the wings with another stupid decision to tip the boat over again.

Venkys took the crown off Ashley and made us the laughing stock of English football, but whilst Ashley would provide us with a much need gasp of air, it would be short term and we'd be thrown back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons soon enough.

Although preferable to Venkys, I'd much rather not have another owner who is going to have us question who benefits from their decisions, when the question should never need to be asked in the first place.

[davulsukur]

45 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

Just seen this on the hellsite…

Some insane copium in defending Venkys there.

Is that the best they can come up with?

They realise this is a football club right? Match day experience, attendances, league position, cup progression, player trading, the academy, stadium infrastructure, training facilities fan engagement etc. Does all of that mean NOTHING over the last 15 years.

It's ok though, we've now got a much smaller but more diverse crowd 👏. Well done Venkys, you've really raised the bar.

[Penwortham Blue]

14 hours ago, Herbie6590 said:

 

Harry Berry, life long Rovers fan, author and club historian, spot on here ! No one wants to boycott but we all want our club to survive and we should send a clear and united message by a no show at the Watford fixture.

Edited 13 hours ago by Penwortham Blue

[Tomphil2]

That foodteacher is a complete lunatic and clear club plant, probably Yasir or whatever his name is.

After ruining a sold Prem club, throwing 200 million down the drain, never finishing ONCE in the Championship top 6 despite a now £80 million player trading profit and constantly embarrassing the club and fans leading to 35 year low crowd turnouts ....

It trys to boast about a few bus fulls of inner town kids every now and again, a few training pitches and some lie about season tickets.

THAT is genuinely how these people think, muddled isn't the word, puddled is better.

[chaddyrovers]

13 hours ago, JHRover said:

We had Sports Direct running the Ewood shop when the Walker Trust owned us. Don't you remember the Lonsdale days?

Yes I do, the club shop was all about Sports Direct and Ashley not Blackburn Rovers 

13 hours ago, JHRover said:

To be honest if the biggest worry is the state of the club shop it's not a big issue

Where did I say its was biggest worry. Ashley's ownership of Newcastle was awful and all about him and Sports Direct not about Newcastle United. Just like it wouldn't be about Blackburn Rovers if he bought us. 

13 hours ago, JHRover said:

Personally I'm not really interested in what Newcastle fans think. If he'd have splashed cash like they wanted the Saudis probably wouldn't have been interested in buying them as a loss making/debt ridden club. 

Look at how much the current owners of Newcastle had to invest improve things there. Improving the squad to stay up, stadium and club shop then training ground and academy improvements. 

But its was all already with. 

13 hours ago, JHRover said:

I don't need to think about it again. I can say without any shred of doubt that I'd welcome a proper businessman with a brain like Mike Ashley over the poison that has ruined Blackburn Rovers. If that means having 'sports direct' boards around Ewood rather than mouldy 'Venkys' ones fine by me.

If you would be happy with him as owner then fine. I wouldn't. He is not the same of owner I want here at all here. I prefer a new owner who would understand the supporters, the local area, etc. Mike Ashley is not that type of owner. Maybe that Australia group who connected J*B could that people or David Storch could be that person. Without knowing more about him personally tho his interview on Radio Sheffield was more than decent. 

[chaddyrovers]

3 hours ago, davulsukur said:

Match day experience, 

How could the match day experience be better? What would you like to see? 

[J*B]

5 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

How could the match day experience be better? What would you like to see? 

Can you tell me, very clearly, what you enjoy about the match day experience? You cannot answer with things that the club has no effect on e.g. “I enjoy spending time with my Dad and Brother.”

[simongarnerisgod]

5 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

How could the match day experience be better? What would you like to see? 

a competetive side with a club thats run properly with a modicum of ambition,is that to much to ask

[roversfan99]

37 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Yes I do, the club shop was all about Sports Direct and Ashley not Blackburn Rovers 

Where did I say its was biggest worry. Ashley's ownership of Newcastle was awful and all about him and Sports Direct not about Newcastle United. Just like it wouldn't be about Blackburn Rovers if he bought us. 

Look at how much the current owners of Newcastle had to invest improve things there. Improving the squad to stay up, stadium and club shop then training ground and academy improvements. 

But its was all already with. 

If you would be happy with him as owner then fine. I wouldn't. He is not the same of owner I want here at all here. I prefer a new owner who would understand the supporters, the local area, etc. Mike Ashley is not that type of owner. Maybe that Australia group who connected J*B could that people or David Storch could be that person. Without knowing more about him personally tho his interview on Radio Sheffield was more than decent. 

Simple question. No evasion.

Venkys or Mike Ashley?

[bobbybrfc]

Mike Ashley, or whoever, can turn the club shop into whatever they want for me if it means the end of the Rao family's association with Rovers. 

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, J*B said:

Can you tell me, very clearly, what you enjoy about the match day experience? You cannot answer with things that the club has no effect on e.g. “I enjoy spending time with my Dad and Brother.”

Supporting my club during matches live at Ewood Park. 

I don't drink alcohol anymore, food and drink options overpriced for me and quality not good enough as previously said, Music pre match doesn't interested me anymore. Prefer a more upbeat song to be the walk out song. Pre match, I just watch the dinner time kick off game on mainly and just sit in my seat talking to my brother and nephew plus others around me. 

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

Simple question. No evasion.

Venkys or Mike Ashley?

You enjoyed demanding answers to your questions, shame you don't show the same curiosity to me when you don't answer mine, maybe think about that. I will answer your question, None of them, I explained previously what type of owner I wanted to buy the club, Mike Ashley doesn't fit that does he? 

[Tomphil2]

I'm neither a fan nor hater of Mike Ashley but he is the very representation of the corporate greed that has swallowed Prem football.

Bought a club for totally non football reasons, didn't really know what to do with it. Employed a lawyer clown to run it who was taking advise of ex footballers way above their station, oh and agents.

Made a balls of........    Sound familiar ?

However - and here's the thing - after copping plenty stick from the entitled barcode masses he didn't just give up, ignore it and leave it hanging sliding down the leagues cutting costs.

He made it into a debt free sustainable business ready to sell although it didn't come without pain he did the right thing in the end.

All in just under 15 years, Venkys please take note !