Ok so I've had a productive day reading through the various options offered around the Championship and thinking about how Rovers compare to our rivals. As far as I can see only Preston and Reading come into the same group as us that being they are only offering one option of exchanging season tickets for access to IFollow. Nevertheless Preston have said that they are planning on rewarding fans next season for their loyalty which is more than Rovers have done (strange as Waggott himself suggested in May that he wanted to reward fans with discounts towards renewing season tickets yet there's absolutely no mention or suggestion of it in the club statement last week). Other than that every other club is offering a range of options some which completely shame us and our treatment of fans. Wigan are offering three options - a refund, I Follow access or credit for future purchases Stoke - every season ticket holder has been credited with pro rata club cash to use how they want - towards online games, future purchases, donation or cash refund. WBA - 3 options - cash refund, I Follow access, club cash for future buys or a donation Derby - 5 options - cash refund, donation, 4 home game vouchers next year, 10% off next season ticket & I Follow access or 20% off next season ticket Forest - cash refund, 10% off next year + pair of tickets for 2 cup games, I Follow access including digital programme or donation Birmingham - I Follow access, donation or 21% toward next season's ticket Sheff Wed - donation, pro rata refund or credit to club account Barnsley - donation, any 4 games next season, discount on season ticket or cash refund Huddersfield - 4 options - default is IFollow access but can change to refund, donation or club credit Leeds - donation, pro rata refund or 'bundle' including I Follow access, programmes & £50 retail voucher Hull - refund or discounts for next season Middlesbrough - refund or credit on future purchases - either way fans get free I Follow access Millwall - I Follow access but can request refund Fulham - I Follow access, pro rata refund, credit to club account or donation Brentford - I Follow access, refund, credit to club account or donation Charlton - I Follow access, refund or credit for future purchases QPR - Free access to I Follow and either a club credit or refund Swansea - can select either a refund, online streaming (with 70% off club shop & 50% off ST if promoted) or 'lucky dip' with 70% off club shop and 50% off season ticket if promoted Cardiff - cash refund, ticket office credit & I Follow access or donation Bristol City - refund, donation to academy or ticket office credit Luton - either a refund or donation to the club. If donating to the club you receive pack which includes I Follow access, programme, teamsheet and your name on next season's shirt. So in view of the above i hope nobody thinks we are just doing what everyone else is doing. We've made a decision and it is going to cost us. Dreadful treatment of supporters and that's before we compare the wording of club statements, many of which treat fans with compassion, honesty and respect. Sadly we aren't even capable of that. I think everyone can understand it is a tough situation and needs to be carefully managed. But to not offer any options or alternatives and basically say 'tough' to anyone unable or unwilling to use online streaming is terrible.

I’m going off on a tangent here, but Barnsley (Barnsley!) having more season ticket holders than Blackburn Rovers can offer no finer example of the marked decline of this great club under this abysmal ownership...

But if we did sign him no doubt you'd be saying it was a managerial masterstroke! ?

Leeds are doing the same and calling them 'crowdies'. The big difference between them and us is that it's an option to take in lieu of missing games having paid for them. Haven't we had several cardboard cutouts on the pitch for us recently though ???.

Barnsley get promoted from League One and harness that momentum and goodwill and use it to grow their fanbase. We get promoted from League One and somehow manage to reduce our season ticket base whilst upping prices by nearly 20% across the board. One club might be struggling on the pitch but at least knows the importance of treating fans with respect and the proof is in the numbers through the doors. Waggott will argue he has done his job on the balance sheets but the numbers of fans turning up suggest otherwise, and it is only going to go one way from here.

These are the kind of initiatives that would be applauded at a club where: - They didn’t have billionaire owners (“desperate to fund success” unless we are being lied to) - Board members weren’t on up to £300k (even during a crippling pandemic) - Players has taken a pay cut to help the club (we’re all in it together) - Those in charge saw the most faithful fans as assets to be cherished rather than to be exploited by price hikes and guilt trips - It was recognised that some fans would happily donate or accept iFollow, while a small number of others desperately needed that refund (offered by other clubs) due to devastating change in circumstances - There hasn’t been 10 years of piss-takes and squandering by those in charge, with no regard for fans who have stuck around - even through the ignominy and embarrassment of relegation to the third tier If the mission has been to alienate fans then the current board are doing NOTHING to turn that around. Take a pay cut Waggott and you’ll get some respect. Keep taking your exorbitant wage while telling us that we must support our club and you can foxtrot oscar.

If it was a choice between picking up Maddison on a free and giving him a go on the right wing, or go into another season of Gallagher playing there, which would you choose?

Lol...Messageboard!

Seems to be improving to me.

https://www.empireofthekop.com/2020/06/13/video-watch-the-full-highlights-as-liverpool-demolish-blackburn-6-0-at-anfield/

I wasnt there when she appeared. The Superheroes of Sale have been doing a great job. They're a group of runners who do daily runs dressed as superheroes. You can ask them to come and say Happy Birthday to your child and they publish their routes, call at peoples houses, knock and stand at a distance for photos. Theyve raised over £5K for Ronald McDonald House so far and brought a lot of fun to a lot of kids who cant celebrate their birthday as they normally would.

I’m sure a lot of clubs will want to ‘do a Brentford’ but it’s easier said then done. Brentford have been building their method for years. Especially difficult at a club like Bolton that have been stripped bare in recent years.

1 - To be fair, last season we were the first club in the league to know what league we would be in this season, and were still the last to get ST's on sale, so that doesn't mean anything. 2 - Great, I'm glad it's a good deal for you, it is to me as I'll watch some of them too. There will be plenty who can't take advantage of it though, seems like because it's a good deal for you personally then it's fine, it isn't. Also "give back what little money they have" do me a favour, as others have mentioned, Smallwood & Mulgrew have been paid thousands a week to do nothing, Gladwin got another 6 month deal to do nothing, all the directors salaries have doubled, and venkys have put another £4m into the club a week or so back. The club can afford to offer refunds, no matter how they try and spin it.

Dusty Springfield - In The Middle Of Nowhere

Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror

Running on Empty - Jackson Browne

From some of the performances so far from some players I'll take average all day long

It is a bit different for Chelsea, a Premier League club owned by a oil rich benefactor. United and Everton are rich too and Premier League clubs. Thats a totally different market really. To be honest, if Rovers started splashing the cash (which they wont) it would just further highlight how unjust it was from Waggott yesterday begging, pleading and guilt tripping the fanbase. You would think we would want to sell players anyway based on how desperate the aforementioned statement was, but who is going to buy our players? I don't think any of our players will seriously attract Premier League clubs and there certainly isnt going to be clubs with money to blow in the Football League. It cannot be a normal market, aside from signing a freebie keeper and maybe a centre back, surely we do not have the luxury to be signing other positions, its all about stability and survival. If our CEO is begging fans not to get refunds of £60 then surely things are really desperate.

Wow, that’s both pathetic and patronising! With Waggott’s policy seemingly being to disregard fans at all costs I can’t see how on earth he thinks this will squeeze more cash out of fans. ”Your support is 4 mill thick!”

The Doobie Brothers - Long Train Runnin’

If I could guarantee a place right next to Mowbray with full TV exposure I'd be tempted to buy a cutout. I would of course be be wearing my 'Venky's Out' T-shirt

Forest are doing the same, but theirs are 20 quid and they've already sold 500. I suspect we are watching and copying them seeing an easy way to make a few quid. Normally I'd applaud that but in the present circumstances it doesn't sit right doing that to fans already out of pocket. I suspect we'll sell a handful and it will look daft on tv.

Id choose Maddison, i think Gallagher is even shyter

Paul Weller - You Do Something To Me

Cos despite his good stats he never moved in the past 3 years permanently. Do you find that odd? Would I sign him? No I wouldnt

The main thing that strikes me from that list is how heavily we relied on Mulgrew's input from set pieces. And he hasn't even played for us since the opening day.

His parents must have been Scottish I expect.

Does anyone know anyone who has a box or place in Jack's kitchen/Premier Suite? Just wondering what the policy is towards those people who pay thousands a year to entertain guests. Are we really going to upset them too by giving them a password for I Follow? Could be corporate suicide.

Old saying in boxing that always rings true -- Nothing signed, nothing agreed This is just verbal publicity just wait till they get around to trying to thrash out the finer details. The Fury mob and Warren won't sell their soul to Hearn no chance. Meanwhile Hearn won't fancy a load of gangsters setting it up no doubt this fella has links to the same underworld as Fury's family. Don't hold your breath for this one all they've done so far is agree it's a 50/50 purse split. That could soon change again.

The Doors - People Are Strange

Just as Maddison is 'shyte' in your opinion.

Got to be our least priority position unless we lose Travis. We have Travis, Evans, Johnson, Davenport and Smallwood (probably on his way out tbf) for whom that is basically their only position (ok Travis could play elsewhere but never does and is our best player there). We then have Buckley, Bennett, Downing, Holtby and even Rothwell who are all options there. Not saying it's an area that's impossible to improve on, at all, but when about half the team needs improvement and depth as a more pressing issue, and with resources likely limited, I'll probably consider it highly frustrating if we recruit in this area. Obviously if the kid turns out to be exceptional and didn't cost much it'll probably be alright, but not if we're still getting roasted down our left flank, shipping dodgy goals with a dodgy keeper, etc. We need 2 goalkeepers, a left back or two, two centre halves, proper right-back cover, a winger or two, and genuine competition for Armstrong up front, all before we need another defensive midfielder. Actually, scrap my earlier comment about half the team, that's basically the entire rest of the team that's a bigger issue than this position.

I think Lyle Taylor is looking for a lot more than we will offer.

" Gangsters involved in boxing " ? That's a new one, do bears still shit in the woods these days ?

From Barnsley's web site Due to this uncertainty and the need for urgent earnings to preserve the Club’s immediate financial future, seasonal passes will shortly be made available for the 2020/21 season at heavily discounted rates. During the first month of sales, an exclusive ‘flat rate’ will be in operation across the stadium. If you opt to renew your seat, you will still be entitled to either donate your remaining 19/20 games or claim a ‘four game flexi’. Also, inline with trying to do the right thing for our supporters, if other options are deemed unsuitable, we will attempt to offer pro-rata refunds for those entitled to four home 2019/20 fixtures. Despite this move being detremental to the Club (if 9,000+ seasonal members opt for refunds, significant strains will be exerted on our cash-flow (approximately -£400,000)), it is morally a necessity.

I was using my mobile. When I tried on my desktop it worked. Cheers though.

Armstrong isnt a forward, hes a winger that cuts in and runs at defenders.....he's shyte with his back to goal or leading the line...imo We need more pace options up front

Lipps Inc. - Funky Town

Celebrated my grandsons 4th birthday with him yesterday, all suitably distanced. Superheroes of Sale sent Captain America, the Incredible Hulk and Batwoman to visit him. Fantastic!

Handicap down to 16 today, broke 90 for the first time in 3 years!

Interesting reading between the lines about his views on the current coaching set up (not TM)...which delayed Ryan Nyambe's progress... Hodgson's signings were not rated by the other players and there was clearly a bad atmosphere in that relegation season. And doesn't he just love Brian Kidd!!

And the point is ?

Good deal for you, it’s a good deal for me, but what about those that don’t want/can’t watch a stream?

Usual slopey shoulders. Lynsey Talbot is the General Manager of Rovers, Steve Waggot is CEO. There is no way the statement released yesterday came from someone in the commercial department without being authorised by those two. Compare Rovers' statement with the Port Vale statement posted on this thread. Which club has their fans' interests at heart and which doesn't ?

I heard this morning of a long standing Rovers can who very rarely misses a game and is self isolating due to a medical condition. He has never owned a computer and probably wouldn't know how to switch one on. He lives alone and with self isolating there is no chance he can watch Rovers on iFollow anywhere. The assumption Rovers have made is that one size fits and it is completely wrong and almost discriminatory. They have taken a lazy approach to this which sadly seems to be the norm in the last decade.

I dont understand the mindset of those going out of their way to defend the club in this case. Like myself, I presume that most of those people are content with the ifollow option, they feel adequately remunerated and like myself on a personal level are happy to leave that there. Or even in isolated cases, arent STH's/regular attendees and are just struggling to empathise. As @Mattyblue touches on you also have to appreciate the bigger picture ie that it could be harmful for the club longer term because it is a big example of potentially straining a relationship with its supporters. Defending and condoning the statement yesterday, both in its content and tone is leaving the responsibility and guilt of a "struggling" club upon the working class rather than the directors whose salaries have tangibly sky rocketed recently and the players who have as far as I know agreed to defer their wages but not in any way compromise the amount they will receive. You would never expect people to donate £60 to the club to help to "safeguard it" otherwise so if these people do not feel adequately remunerated, if they dont have a computer, if they are part of a household of multiple season tickets or if they hold no interest in BCD as an alternative to what they paid for then essentially letting that rest and going without would be donating £60 to the club and people shouldnt be guilt tripped into doing that. The FFP excuses has been laid to rest to because the refund could be deferred.

A club owned by local people, that are also fans, just contrast the warmth and connection to their community that you can feel in that letter to the hired hands running our hollowed out organisation...

Nowhere near as bad as it appears

U23 football isn’t any kind of barometer. Glorified training matches against players coming back from injury operating at half pace, de-motivated first teamers and some young lads that just won’t make it and are passing time until they are released. Doesn’t mean you can’t pull diamonds out of there, look at Travis, but you can only judge them from what you see in the first team. So give JRC a run of games, but it’s fair enough to say apart from the cameo against Sheff Wed who were a well beaten 10 men by the time he came on, he hasn’t looked particularly impressive. And that’s fine and to be expected for many young lads, by the way, Travis has come on leaps and bounds with first team experience.

I don't mind Eddie Hearn to be honest, at least he's trying to make the biggest fights. Saudi is all about the money, bollox to the fans, thats why I hope its in UK or Vegas.