With relegation arguably a realistic proposition I did a bit of digging and come up with some numbers. These are taken from an article in the Athletic from October last year. Currently Championship clubs get £5.19m in solidarity payments and £3.92m from the EFL. This is over £9m as a Championship club. As a League One club it drops to £780k and £950k for both payments leaving a difference of over £7m. Factor in less season and match day tickets, less income from away supporters at Ewood, less commercial and hospitality income and it could leave a £10m hole. A relegation would be catastrophic and in my view inevitably lead to administration. I really don't know if the people running the club have weighed up the implications. I would like this to be asked at the next Fans Forum and for Waggott to be put on the spot and interrogated as to how we could carry on. https://theathletic.com/4957498/2023/10/16/epl-efl-explained-deal-english-football/

Thought this might interest others as a separate topic. The football media landscape has altered dramatically thanks to the internet. It’s the case for media generally, of course. I’m far from being knowledgeable on this but it all seems very fragmented now. However, one thing is clear, the volume of football media content has grown immensely. You have new broadcasters, online streaming, fan channels, club channels, podcasts and still have the online forums and websites chuntering on. And then there’s the small matter of the “content fruit machines” of social media pushing junk or bite size portions of this content on social media to the world, including children. I wonder what people’s personal experiences have been and how they feel about some of these changes. I wonder where you think we are headed with football media and content. The negatives and the bad examples are clear, I think. The control broadcasters have over fixture dates and timings has created an excess of coverage and disruption for fans. Broadcaster money is fuelling expansion and takeover of the game by tournaments like the Champions’ League (which should rightfully be renamed Elites League, as it has nothing remotely to do with champions any more.) There is the torrent of mindless content now flowing. I constantly get pushed social media clips of a certain football show marked by its flirtatious banter and bon homie and I find myself equally enraged and fascinated by its utterly dull self-absorption and the participants complete lack of self-awareness. But I usually watch the clips, I admit. Incidentally, I suppose those clips are designed to enrage me and trigger feels of contempt. I’m sure, if I were to watch entire shows rather than just these spoon-fed clips, I’d see that the show isn’t as abhorrent as I think and the people are actually ok. On the other hand, I’ve enjoyed seeing fan channels give a voice to fans, challenge clubs and their owners, in some cases. I’ve enjoyed seeing the mainstream media move through the stages of denial to contemptuous attack to co-option in response. The new competition has brought improvements, shaking up legacy coverage from some of its tired practices. Nonetheless, commercial sponsorship models, manipulative and censorious channels like YouTube and co-option, I think, have meant that the promise of giving a true voice to fans hasn’t been realised, as many subjects about football’s governance are, apparently, off-topic. I wonder what others have found negative and positive in developments.

Does anyone else think RoversTV needs more content or perhaps an overhaul? The interviews are great between the presenter and the team but you get the same regurgitated content in the local papers and online so it doesn't feel like you're getting extra content. Other clubs are showing friendlies, lots of pre-season content - whether serious or fun. I saw during the season other clubs do pre-game and post game chat, yet we have a few interviews and no friendly highlights whatsoever. Even during the season the highlight package is just a replay of the entire game. I used to quite enjoy the 10-15 minute extended highlights of each game which showed a bit more action than the goals shown on TV. It would be great if you could watch pre-season games, academy games, or even archived games from many years ago. I'm sure other fans have a lot more ideas too. Do you subscribe and what are your thoughts?

I have been a long term reader of this forum, and I have always enjoyed reading people’s opinions on Rovers, without ever posting myself. After 30 years of supporting Rovers, I think I am at my lowest point, and there have been many lows over the past 12 years as you all know. I cannot stomach the thought of another 12 years under our current “owners”. As many have posted over the last couple of months, where do we go from here to rid ourselves of these people who have shamed and continue to shame this once proud and great football club. 12 years of mis-management, lies, and embarrassment. Does it make me any less of a fan to think rovers would be better off getting relegated in order to force a reaction in India? As we are only going to be in the exact same position or worse next season in the championship. The topic of protests. I admire those who organised the tennis ball protest against Newcastle albeit it was a small protest. What will it take for Rovers fans to invade the pitch in numbers like reading have done, hitting the club and owners in the pocket with abandoned matches. Through the Lancashire telegraph or other platforms, can an open letter to the owners be compiled requesting them to sell the football club as their position is untenable and beyond repair. This may have been tried in years gone by, and be nothing more than something the owners would simply overlook but at least it hammers home the fans feelings. Surely more pressure must be applied to the Football League for more stringent criteria to be put in place on owners. A founder member of the Football League being dragged through the mud, and technically being ran on the basis payments are approved by a court in India. I can live with the club not having much money to spend on players, but to be subjected to a constant cycle of crisis and incompetence at every level I cannot. At the very least we demand the club is ran professionally by people who care and have good intentions.

If we do go down would you keep Eustace on, like we did with Mowbray after relegation. ? I think I know what the answer will be but I thought I’d ask anyway.

The attendance for the Newcastle game of 22,730 just doesn't add up. Approx in each stand including corporate. JW - 9.5k BBE - 4.8K RS - 2.5K DE - 7.5K Total = 24.3k Look at it another way Capacity of Ewood is 31,367 take 22,730 you're left with 8,637 empty seats. BBE upper - 2,900 RS - 2K DE - 400 JW - 500 Total 5,800 empty seats If all were sold that's a sold out stadium of 27,530? Were have the missing 3k seats gone?

We keep slagging off the "Venkys" but it is the Rao family that have ruined the club. The Rovers manager was prevented from speaking at his regular Friday presser yesterday but has spoken today. Last summer the "project" that he had agreed with the owners changed completely. He had just missed the play offs on goal difference but was told there was no money for transfer fees or wages, the budget was considerably reduced. Under these circumstances he offered to resign and leave the club without any reimbursement. No, the owners wanted him to continue so he moved his family to the Ribble Valley and continued to work long hours. This current transfer window the budget was cut again and despite selling a 19 year old star player for £18m+ there was no money for transfer fees. The owners, the Rao family, are being investigated by the Indian government for fraud, perhaps even money laundering. They are not allowed to transfer money out of India without permission. The court case is ongoing. When the Rao family bought BRFC they didn't know a club could be relegated. They were allegedly conned by advisors. The Rao family are stupid, ignorant, dishonest and dishonourable people. They are an embarrassment to their family and country. Let's forget Venkys and go after the real culprits?

Chorley match yesterday was the only one in national league north to be played others postponed due to weather and clubs refusing to play. The season resumed whilst the vote on whether to continue or finish remains outstanding with clubs having a 28 day period to vote. Why restart when you may stop again in two weeks. National league threaten clubs who refuse to play with fines and point awarded to opponent. Bradford pa have voted to stop on the grounds they didn't agree for the second tranche of money to be a loan earlier in the season. Their opponents Farsley Celtic have also voted to stop so national league can't award points to opponents in this case. Bradford say why restart season and spend thousands they don't have when result in a few weeks of the vote may see season ended. Makes sense. National league have got themselves in a right mess if clubs can't afford to play the game how do they expect them to pay a fine. It is also possible for the individual national leagues to vote with a different outcome it appears. Would they not be better having a lengthy pause and restarting again say in May and playing during the summer when covid rates are lower and there is a possibility of fans getting back in the grounds to some degree and generate some income to maintain the clubs. Some out of the box thinking is required rather than just giving up

I know, I know, it has only been one match. But this messageboard is so often inundated with total negativity that I thought it might be time to enjoy a little bit of optimism. We're off to a great start. We've got a young squad that a lot will be envious of. We play a brand of football that is genuinely really enjoyable to watch. 1 down. 45 to go. This will almost certainly age badly, but let's just take a moment to embrace the positivity. A couple of more signings and there could be reason to hope for - and maybe even expect - a good season.

Will he get recalled by the new guy ?

We need to get rid of venkys!! Please someone takeover?! We can be a premiership team again! Our young players are good!

My second season with a streaming subscription. I've been to Blackburn but not Ewood. I need to fix that.

A sad ending to a wonderful managerial career but I will be forever thankful for Roy’s one full season at Rovers. 97-98 was one of my favourites for numerous reasons: 7-2 against Wednesday, 5-3 against Leicester, 5-0 and 4-0 against Villa, 3-1 at Arsenal…the start to the season that had us briefly in the running for the title, Sutton and Gallacher banging in the goals with Sutty sharing the golden boot with Dublin and Owen…Ripley remembering how to score, Duffer starting to cement a place in the side, Henchoz solid at the back, Gary Croft’s winner against Chelsea (a collection of words that no supercomputer could ever put into a sentence!!!). It was a shame that things went downhill quickly for Roy after that and I honestly believe we’d have survived if he’d been given the full second season (despite some questionable purchases). My favourite Roy moment was him trying to quote Forrest Gump in a post match interview only to struggle before admitting he’d only seen the film in French!!! Roy was (and still is) an honourable man and I wish him all the best in his retirement. My fond memories of that season are mainly down to his hard work.

Apologies if I’ve missed any recent discussion on this topic, but thought it warranted a thread. Recent comments from the manager, sorry head coach, suggest JRC is pretty much done here. I have mixed feelings on this. It’s undeniable he hasn’t got near to realising that early potential yet, but I still think there is a player in there. Where has it all gone wrong? Obviously the injuries haven’t helped, but I strongly believe that being shoehorned in at right back has wrecked him.

I usually avoid social media(with the exception of a few forums, this one included), but recently I’ve found myself on Twitter, Facebook and the LET website. In the last few days I’ve seen some absolutely baffling views expressed by some of our supporters/fans. I’ve started screenshotting some of them, so I thought I’d create a topic where we can document and marvel at the stupidity, naivety and Ignorance. Maybe this can be used constructively to educate and guide them? I’ll start with this I found on Twitter today. Also some I found at the weekend on the LET, wow the comments section on there is truly something!

The Venkies should be a banned word, they will never leave the club until it gets personal and losing face in India is a major event. It’s the Raos that should be targeted/referred as

how do we shame elliots venkygraph and/or bayes station to grow a pair of bollox and demand answers from the scum in pune or even get pasha on record . DO YOUR DUTY

TIME TO WAKEN FROM THY SLUMBER

Evening i am trying to obtain the following with the exact dates or info as to their existance. I appreciate that these are very scarce but was hoping someone may be able to help? Also does anyone know if the same programme was used for the LC Semi at Ewood Park as it was postponed 02.04.62 then played 04.04.62 or did it have a stamp on it? Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks iain

Hey all, there's been a lot of talk on the website about getting shirts to show our frustrations with the ownership. The podcast that I'm a part of is about to launch some new swag and we've quickly thrown in some 'save our club' related shirts and sweatshirts. At the moment there is only one shirt up, but the final designs are being added for alternatives. If anyone has any suggestions for designs just make a comment and we can look at having them added in. All profits will go to a charity - please feel free to suggest a local charity in the Blackburn area and we will forward all of our proceeds (the hosting site takes out the cost of materials, shipping, and their fee) to a suitable charity(ies). Our future guests do include some representatives from the Football League and Premier League (as well as footballers and coaches), so it is a topic that we will be discussing with some fairly relevant figures. You can check out the podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lcE9bcFERR1kFlujkaBW9?si=bca4afcdd4494851 The gear itself will be of decent quality with nice material and embroidered logos, so this is to avoid just shipping out low-quality stuff that people will wear once or possibly even never wear. They ship globally and shipping times are pretty quick (Fourth Wall handles all of that directly). Here's a link to the store and I will let you know when more products are up: https://the-big-chill-podcast-shop.fourthwall.com/en-eur/?source=dashboard This really isn't meant for self-promotion, just because I'd like some gear that I can wear that is actually of a quality and design that I'll enjoy and be proud of wearing. I think it adds to the movement to not be throwing on cheap crap that makes it look like we thought the idea up 5 minutes before kick-off. Please feel free to make suggestions as to types of products that you'd like to see added (hoodies, stickers, mugs, etc.) and any help would be much appreciated.

Maybe because it’s a Sunday night but with rovers it’s not very good at the minute with results frustration etc but are we not proud to be rovers no matter what we will always be at Ewood. I won’t stop following this club and getting there as much as possible. Few well quite a few pints and a day at Ewood and away matches all day long. RTID.

Thought this warranted its own thread whilst I appreciate being discussed in fans forum/ rovers tore felt too important to be tucked away. I wonder as Cambridge are happy to have tickets sent in the post whether it will also be possible to pay on the day for the away end whereas for home support this would appear not to be available.

Interesting video showing the history between us and the dingles, going back through history with attendance's etc..

He's signed and is finally announced. Welcome Leopold, may you be as great as big Brad was. Now for the debate, Leo or Pears?

Sticking my neck out here, perhaps naively, but I’m just so beyond fed up: It is time. We need to wake up. We need a supporter uprising. The past 13 yrs have been a mess, obviously, but this year represents the mother of all missed opportunities for the club (and the owners). The owners (and the club’s CEO) have no plan but to tread water forever, and do not care to invest the little extra needed for a serious promotion push (although they’re ok wasting 10-20 m a yr). There is no rationality, there is no communication from the owners (and hasn’t been for years…), the communication from the club to the outside world is in part dishonest and in part self-contradictory. The list of bad stuff goes on and on… The level of the performances on the pitch are starting to dip. The squad is getting thinner each transfer window. And our excellent coach (the one without wheels) will likely leave by the end of the season. The club will not be able to recruit a new manager with anything close to the same quality. SO - can we please apply some pressure to the Venky gang? How? a letter? Protests in the stands? Empty stadium? Other suggestions? Does one start with Pasha? Or Waggott? Do we know any potential buyers of the club? Or have we all accepted Rovers’ faith and decided there’s nothing the fans can do about it; we are doomed to watch mediocre (at best) second level (at best) football under faceless chicken farmers/gangsters for the rest of our lives?