How long until the end of Venkys?

[ilian22]

As someone who is not British nor lives in England, its quite difficult for myself to follow everything Rovers-related first hand. I try to stay active across different media so I can keep myself familiar with what is important, follow the rumours and get some sense of what’s going on in and around the club.

However, being far away and with Venkys as owners, I really struggle nowadays to fully invest myself in supporting Rovers, which is sad as Rovers have been my number one team for more than 20 years.

In this train of thought, based on everything you know, everything you have heard, and perhaps everything you sense, when do you think the Venkys era will end?

Do you think they will still be here in another 15 years? Or do you believe we will see the end of them sooner, perhaps much sooner?

 

P.S. I’m not sure how to create a poll, or whether a poll would be a good idea, but if the admins think it could work, maybe we could give it a go with a few options.

 

Cheers

Edited 20 hours ago by ilian22

[simongarnerisgod]

is that you pasha?????????

[JHRover]

I'm convinced it only ends when they're forced into it. That means financially or legally/logistically they can't carry on with it.

I don't think they'll give it up otherwise. At least not as long as the wicked four continue to control the company. Maybe when control passes elsewhere someone with a brain will cut their losses and leave us alone.

[StHelensRover]

My gut instinct is that they will not be here in 5 years time. Not sure how that is going to happen. I imagine we will be in the lower reaches of League One if they are still here at that point, if they don't exit fairly soon.

I think we may scrape staying up this season but if they stay I think we'll go down next year based on their current operating model. I think being relegated again to League One would be the beginning of the end. The club will take many years to recover if it is relegated again.

Edited 18 hours ago by StHelensRover

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

They’ll be here forever. After the coming nuclear holocaust it’ll be just them and the cockroaches left alive.

[Upside Down]

25 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

They’ll be here forever. After the coming nuclear holocaust it’ll be just them and the cockroaches left alive.

So just them and a much more valuable and intelligent lifeform.

[Tom]

Honestly they’ll go when they decide to, most likely when someone does an audit of all their assets and reminds them they own us.

The worrying thing is they don’t need to sell us nor need us to succeed I imagine it’s just a going concern and an ongoing expense at this point. 

[lraC]

They hold onto us for nefarious reasons in my opinion and unless it is wrestled away from them, they will not sell.

Think court case, dubious use of funds, ED in India, seizure of properties and links to agents, who cannot be trusted and that all screams of dodgy dealings. 
There have even been links to an Italian Aristocrat and a third party ownership fund, so all very suspicious.

Edited 16 hours ago by lraC

[Mattyblue]

It’s NYE 2075…

‘do we think Balaji Rao III will sell? Would a new owner look for building us a new ground or will we stay sharing the Anchor with Darwen?’

[MarkBRFC]

This lot will be here for years yet, no matter what anyone does.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Right now, the kind of sports owners or investment groups who could afford to buy Blackburn Rovers probably don’t even know we exist. And while I don’t expect Venkys to bring this disastrous ownership to an end on their own, I do think they would sell if the right buyer appeared.

That’s why our approach as fans needs to be smarter. We should be actively trying to "sell" the club to potential buyers. I don't mean by storming boardrooms with flip charts and demanding to "show me the money!!", but by using modern, creative methods to get noticed by major sports organisations and ownership groups.

They need to see that:

- we exist and we’re a passionate, historic club

- we’re a genuine investment opportunity

- the Championship offers a clear route to Premier League money

and most importantly

- the fans want this to happen

We might need to think differently to find ways to make the club go viral. We need to be creative, have attention‑grabbing campaigns that make us fans seen and heard. If they won't come to us, perhaps the aim is for us to go to them. 

Maybe the message is as simple as: “We are Blackburn Rovers fans. We want YOU to buy this club. Here’s why.”

 

 

 

[Vinjay]

47 minutes ago, Tim Southampton Rover said:

Right now, the kind of sports owners or investment groups who could afford to buy Blackburn Rovers probably don’t even know we exist. And while I don’t expect Venkys to bring this disastrous ownership to an end on their own, I do think they would sell if the right buyer appeared.

That’s why our approach as fans needs to be smarter. We should be actively trying to "sell" the club to potential buyers. I don't mean by storming boardrooms with flip charts and demanding to "show me the money!!", but by using modern, creative methods to get noticed by major sports organisations and ownership groups.

They need to see that:

- we exist and we’re a passionate, historic club

- we’re a genuine investment opportunity

- the Championship offers a clear route to Premier League money

and most importantly

- the fans want this to happen

We might need to think differently to find ways to make the club go viral. We need to be creative, have attention‑grabbing campaigns that make us fans seen and heard. If they won't come to us, perhaps the aim is for us to go to them. 

Maybe the message is as simple as: “We are Blackburn Rovers fans. We want YOU to buy this club. Here’s why.”

 

 

 

You don't even need creative methods though they don't hurt. The problem there is expecting the Blackburn public to have imagination. You just need to be relentless in your mission. Back in 2005 when I starting using this forum in my justified campaign against the Walkers it was still mainly pre-social media as it is now. Sure there was Facebook and Myspace but it was more about social connection than it is now. Then more and more people saw the opportunity to get their point across. It's gotten to the point where you can't even comment on an actor or sports star without people bringing up the slightest moral lapse in their past. Or calling them bigots if they complain about something perfectly reasonable like being stuck next to a fat person on a long flight. 

I don't want to get too big on conspiracy theories (usually stick to football with them) but some of those tech billionaires at Silicon Valley probably knew exactly what they were doing. 

As I said recently maybe the next big trend is celebrity ownership. I was right to recognise more would follow Abramovich though I never expected a ban on ambition. Infact tomorrow would be the perfect time to highlight that there is a much more historical successful club (with a more marketable name and a better kit when it isn't tainted by a garbage sponsor) that could easily outdo what Reynolds and McElhenny have done without needing 3 promotions. Someone who makes them look like d-listers and could help Venkys save face. It could be one or two individuals or a consortium intent on using their name presence to transform a club overnight. Jack Walker was probably the first person to do that instantly albeit at a club where many fans could still remember being title challengers (in the 60's) and being more historically successful than Liverpool. 

Will you use tomorrow's game to highlight that at the stadium or in social media? I know by now to expect absolutely nothing. Prove me wrong for once. 

Edited 8 hours ago by Vinjay

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Their departure cant come quick enough..that I do know.

[Vinjay]

I did point out in DM's recently that Balaji could be the main problem. Madame and third wheel might have an active desire to sell with him being the one preventing it. Back when there was a link to Qatari ownership in 2011 it was rumoured Balaji was the only thing blocking it. Of course at the time I attempted to instigate a mass protest and got no help in return. 

Also it's been said that Balaji might want his son to take over. Apparently some people have spoken to him and said he came across as arrogant. So I guess you can rule out that "Walker family in reverse" scenario. Not that any potential saviour so to speak would necessarily be on Jack's level. They wouldn't have to be as it's not that hard to improve such low standards.

Edited 6 hours ago by Vinjay

[philipl]

15 years on and the next generation is increasingly important.

I have absolutely no sense of how the Rao offspring view the Rovers.

 

[Bohinen1983]

Could a supporter group rally a consortium of wealthy folk to pitch an offer?  

[JHRover]

Who actually are the Rao offspring? There's Balaji's lad, who once came to a game and met with Mowbray afterwards, who I think was supposed to be attending an English university. Any others? I think the witch and her husband might have a daughter who is high up in the company these days who might once have turned up with them on the snowball day, but can't believe she would have any interest in this.

I suppose there might be some logic to suggest that the extreme cutbacks of recent years have been a sign of the others withdrawing from this and basically telling Balaji and his mates that if they want to keep it then it needs to fund itself as far as it can, no more cash beyond the bare minimum sort of thing. 

 

[Rogerb]

Depends whether troubles at home with the chicken business have any influence 

[Herbie6590]

1 hour ago, Bohinen1983 said:

Could a supporter group rally a consortium of wealthy folk to pitch an offer?  

Assuming we want to compete at Championship level, any prospective purchaser needs to have enough money to give the Raos what they want to go away, to buy back the training ground (or replace it) & provide sufficient working capital to plug the annual revenue gap unless & until income grows sufficiently to close the deficit.

The answer to your question depends on the asking price & the division in which we wish to compete. 

It costs a lot less to compete with Accrington Stanley than Burnley. 

[simongarnerisgod]

the only way venkys are exiting is if they do a chansiri type refusal to pay the bills and let the club slide into administration,might sound bad but i guarantee sheff wed will be in a far better position than us in 3/4 seasons time

[Scotty1991]

3 hours ago, Bohinen1983 said:

Could a supporter group rally a consortium of wealthy folk to pitch an offer?  

Nobody who has 200 million knocking about will buy us. Will not happen. 

[Tomphil2]

5 hours ago, Vinjay said:

I did point out in DM's recently that Balaji could be the main problem. Madame and third wheel might have an active desire to sell with him being the one preventing it. Back when there was a link to Qatari ownership in 2011 it was rumoured Balaji was the only thing blocking it. Of course at the time I attempted to instigate a mass protest and got no help in return. 

Also it's been said that Balaji might want his son to take over. Apparently some people have spoken to him and said he came across as arrogant. So I guess you can rule out that "Walker family in reverse" scenario. Not that any potential saviour so to speak would necessarily be on Jack's level. They wouldn't have to be as it's not that hard to improve such low standards.

He gets the bit of the corporation he runs - allegedly - on the front of the shirts and flashed around the stadium and on tv etc.

His mates run the show and no doubt often have to follow his and his sons whims as well as deal with certain agency 'advisers'.

Above that sits Mr & Mrs who obviously control the level of budget allowed but otherwise probably take no notice of anything.

Third wheel is still confused from 2012 and probably doesn't even know they still own it.

So yeah i'd say he IS the main problem and if anyone is benefiting from it it's him and his pals, also if anyone has anything to hide ..it's him and his pals imo.

[Crimpshrine]

44 minutes ago, Scotty1991 said:

Nobody who has 200 million knocking about will buy us. Will not happen. 

Not sure that figure is anywhere near realistic. Birmingham went for £22 million, Wednesday are currently looking for £20 million but it could be less. Swansea were sold for £100 million when they were in the Prem and sold again recently for an undisclosed amount 'vastly below' that initial investment according to most reports.

[Leonard Venkhater]

It is starting to feel like the 100 year reign of the White Witch in Narnia.

"Always winter, but never Christmas!"

[Vinjay]

Birmingham and Swansea are examples where celebrity names were on board. Tom Brady of the NFL in Birmingham's case and in Swansea's case bringing in Luka Modric, Calvin Broadus and most recently Martha Stewart. Then there's people who are fans like Sheeran at Ipswich. Maybe Dr Who would contribute if a consortium wanted any widely known supporters to get on board with a bid.

Of course one problem with consortiums or overrated fan ownership (and I certainly can't see that happening in Blackburn) is the potential of civil war. Of course minority ownership hardly means significant control. 

 

Edited 26 minutes ago by Vinjay