Fake/citezenship/ passports - Formica, a recipe in Italy. Hidden work permits in drawers at Ewood - Shaw/Agnew - leaving rovers with a decimated medical team - whilst they played King of the castle. Kean's contract written by himself, with ludicrous bonus and a hefty personal loan off rovers for himself Kentaro massive business associate in Venkys pharmaceutical business (this has always bugged me, that relationship of the people who were in Kentaro continues) Yet its still laid out they were naive. Anderson a snake and well out of the picture, but he was never the pied piper, he was just allowed to be one of many lunatics in the asylum. It goes much deeper than him and not on these shores. Why did they get away with it and there will be no retribution? Simple Kentaro were one of the FA's biggest Financial partner/sponsor, with their support massive with our own national team. 95% of gagging orders were issued by our own FA as they knew this was much bigger than Blackburn rovers, and would have had lasting damaging implications to the administration who govern our english game. Regardless of the current climate, £100 million plus later spent, the day they darkened our door, was the day the heart was ripped out of the club. Whatever the future holds, the club will never have that beating heart of being the pillar of our community as long as they own this club. Many say we should forgive, be grateful, we would be no more without them etc. I'D RATHER PUT PINS IN MY EYES

I agree that it’s pretty unhelpful to keep picking at this scab. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years of this lot being here though. There’s hardly a decade of highlights to look back on. That said, I do get quite upset at the idea that the efforts of Glen et al, and the few hundred protesters, are somehow responsible for a fractured fanbase. Not enough people would stand against Kean, let alone put pressure on Venkys, and the vast majority did nothing. Should this minority have simply stood with the majority and supported Kean and what he was doing? Would that have helped? Would that have avoided the fanbase being fractured? And would the fanbase not being fractured have kept us up? Because it was ultimately relegation that halved the fanbase (plastics who were only here to watch PL football on the cheap jumping ship), and it was Venkys sticking by their nice man thereafter that made the silent protesters walk away, most of them never to return. (The fact they didn’t help with protests is the most unforgivable part). Once the destruction began, a fractured fanbase was inevitable. I really really wish there had been a sizeable majority who would have fought for the club. We could have made a huge statement walking from the town hall to Ewood. It really was very very little to ask of fans to show their displeasure on a large scale. 10,000 fans walking down Bolton Road would have been a statement but ended up being about 300, with major apathy and another 300 milling around the ground in the “fanzone”. It would have made a difference. Instead it handed Kean the opportunity to call us “the 1%” and say that 99% of fans were behind him and could “see what he was trying to do”. The irony being that they absolutely couldn’t - and didn’t want to. It was too little too late, but when Ewood finally turned (in a big way) at the end of the Wigan game when we were relegated, that was the moment there should have been a change. It didn’t happen. That was when it was confirmed that Venkys valued Kean more than the fans. Naive my arse. It was pure arrogance and petulance from the children of a rich entrepreneur (sounds familiar) - ‘who do these ungrateful people think they are to question us?’ The offspring off rich people should never be asked to maintain their parent’s passion unless they absolutely share that passion - especially where football clubs and their communities are at stake.

It's highly likely that a large number of those doing the berating now have no interest in the club

If he played the game like he talks it, we'd be over the horizon right now. He's a gabbler, a pure patter merchant, a jibber jabber, a bletherer, a waffler. That's what we like to hire. Gives you a nice glow when he says how we're going to batter teams, but not just yet. Jesus is coming, not quite sure when. Got held up on the A1. Ten years of hot air. Ten years of "we're only x points off of place y, give em a chance"

Harry Winks for Jordan Henderson is the most unnecessarily conservative and pointless sub that could have been made too. Martin Tyler is a nauseating propaganda machine for the Nations League too, a competition that may have a bit of merit as a slight upgrade on friendlies but ultimately one that no one will overly give a shit about, and one that should have been scrapped as collateral damage amidst the excessive strain that the pandemic has put on the fixture schedule.

He battled Shilton for years to have the England #1 shirt,what we could do with either of them these days other than the shite we have in that 1 shirt.

We’ve been shocking. Whilst I don’t think we have the strongest pool of players to choose from, I think Southgate puts too much faith in players who never deliver for us. (Hi Declan Rice). We are too negative in our set up and I’m wondering if Southgate has taken us as far as he can to be honest.

Just can't get my head around this 3-4-3 which in reality with this selection is 5-4-1. The high intensity 4-3-3 we played post world cup up until the covid lockdown was some of the best football I've seen from England. Im sure there was a time last year we scored 4 or 5 a few games in a row. Just can't understand why he's felt the need to go back to this dull Conservative formation, which doesn't even suit the players we have. Mowbray esque.

I hope this jinxes a comeback but England appear at a real crossroads at the moment. Changing from 3 at the back to 4-3-3 and then for no apparent reason back to 3 again recently, the constant changing not only of the 11 but the squad shows that Southgate doesnt really know what he is doing and is just hoping that something falls into place. The team tonight has no balance, absolutely no pace to penetrate in behind aging Belgian centre backs when Kane comes to feet, the love affair with 2 average players in Mount and Rice when we have far better players is very strange, and he is playing more inadequate centre backs than he needs too with Dier a particular liability. Trippier should also not be in the squad, never mind be starting every game. Southgate was very lucky with the draw in the World Cup but I suppose even by only betting Tunisia, Panama, Colombia on penalties and Sweden deserved the credit of how far he had gone but he stumbled into the job to begin with and I think we could do with someone with a bit more nous.

Ten years... And not a day has gone by where I've stopped hating them. They've ruined this club. They've allowed it to be hollowed out by charlatans and chancers. They've brought dishonour upon this club, and I will simply never forgive them. Quite why they're still owners, I dread to think.

Stuart,let me make this clear it was Venkys and the 'chancers' who were responsible for a fractured supporter base NOT the protesters. Those who stood up and had the balls to protest are indeed the reason this Club is still here.

Very well put Stuart. The 1% comment was probably the only truth that came out of his horrible mouth. I often wonder how different it might have been had more fans been on board. I still recoil at the beratings given out to protesters before the Arsenal game as we walked around the ground and assembled by the Jack Walker statue.

I don't think you're taking in the whole story here but fair enough it's your opinion and i do give them grudging respect for seemingly seeing it through money wise. However saying it cost them as much as it cost us and they suffered i have to take issue with. They weren't Rovers fans they probably hadn't heard of the club until Anderson thrust it in front of them. They didn't understand it all so couldn't possibly have the same feelings as fans i'm astonished anybody could think they suffered similar. They got involved for other motives and to them it was and still probably is just money. Yes it's cost them an absolute fortune but it's just spare money they would have thrown at something else. It might be on a VH group balance sheet but in all intents and purpose it's written off by them. With their assets and turnovers they can replace that if they wanted to but you cannot put this club back where it was. Nor can you write off all the angst and division it has created for hardcore fans. Never mind the clear economic impact on the town and Ewood area. So no, they didn't really suffer like the club and fans have.

I like the nation's league as you get competitive games like today where you can measure where you are against top teams as opposed to loads of pointless friendlies which tell you nothing. And today showed we've got a long way to go still. It really feels like we are playing this system to manage the opposition rather than play to our strengths. It's daft as we've probably got the best set of young players we've had in 20 years. What's the point playing three at the back, 2 full backs, Henderson and Rice in the midfield? So very conservative.

I can't face listening to the podcast as it will only dredge up ten years of resentment. From what I've read on here, it doesn't add too much to what we already know. I'm more worried about the future, not the past. I refuse to recognise their continued financial input as any proof that they actually give a damn about the club. They have no interest at all in the club, the community, the history or the fans which, to me, are really more important than results on the pitch. Supportung Rovers has been a massive part of my life but for the last 10 years the relationship has been conflicted. It feels like the club is being occupied by an 'enemy' and the fans are being suppressed but, in the main, submissive. However, we will always want the club to succeed. Surely, one day they will decide to leave but what state will the club be in by then? Given that they will never get their outlay back, why do they continue? May as well cut their losses and go sooner rather than later. Given their total lack of communication, can anyone have a guess at their next move? What does the future hold? I can't imagine just treading water under Venkys for another decade. Will they just continue ignoring the situation until everyone is just too fatigued to care any more.? We want our Rovers back.

Oh I do blame the Walker Trust (so-called), however in no way shape or form does that let Venkys off the hook.

All my childhood entertainers are dying. Very sad.

To be honest I wish this thread had never materialised...it brings back such angst and pain it's untrue.The supporter base ended up fractured and decimated like never before as a consequence. At the time the feeling was one of ever increasing helplessness and isolation as the Club was dragged backwards through the mud and humiliated.Our intelligence being insulted as: •Singh telling the attending fans at the King George's Hall seminar to 'shut up and listen' to his clueless diatribe. •Keane openly goading the travelling supporters at Wigan. •Protesting fans having the piss taken out of them by sections of the football media. •Listening to our new owners admit to being 'confused' Our famous old club reduced to an absolute Circus that I will never forget nor forgive.

I can imagine for an American something like the Madejski would be very familiar. For me, one of the best things about British football, and it still remains true by and large, is that the clubs are so ingrained within the towns and cities they represent. Even though the clubs have grown into global brands, stadiums like Anfield, Goodison Park and even Spurs' new place still sit within the suburbs, with all the pubs and other landmarks that have served the locals for decades. For me, Ewood Park rising out of the rows of terrace houses and narrow backstreets around Ewood is as synonymous with the club as the blue and white halves. I would hate to spend my Saturdays traipsing to an industrial estate, miles from a pub but with plenty of Pizza Huts, to sit in a perfectly symmetrical bowl that could just as easily be in a different end of the country altogether. Thank God we chose to redevelop Ewood in the 90s instead of flogging it to the highest bidder and moving to wherever we fitted. Like North End managed at Deepdale, we ended up with a thoroughly decent modern stadium (well, three sides of one) whilst staying on the patch we've occupied for 130 years now. Anyway, about the Luton match...

Its an interesting podcast, but not anything I've not reported before 11th August 2011 i wrote this : https://roversrevisited.blogspot.com/2011/08/puppet-or-puppeteer.html?m=1#comments 5 years later after further investigation,i then released further information and this was the result https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/misery-at-blackburn-rovers-leaked-documents-reveal-harrowing-details-of-the-indian-rule-at-riverside The truth is,if it had not been for the supporters,we probably wouldnt have a club now. We stood up against the crooks, shouted louder than they could handle and one by one took each one out. BRFCS was a big part of ensuring the likes of Anderson are no more. The FA, Premier League, Football league and Parliament took us serious and had very uncomfortable moments as we sat across the table from us. what this podcast shows, is as fans it was not our job to expose it, or indeed spend our own money to do so. Many out there had the inside track,but stayed quiet

It is massively flawed as I suspect you are aware to imply that solely on the basis that he got us to a World Cup Semi Final, that his job is guaranteed as a result. Should Mourinho not have been sacked when Chelsea were 15th the season after winning the title with the squad in disarray, who else would beat winning the title? Not as simple as that. Firstly, things change in football and England do not seem to be displaying promising signs of developing and getting the best from what is a crop of players, many of whom (Kane, Grealish, Sterling, Sancho, Walker, Arnold, James, Henderson, until injury Gomez etc) are performing very well at club level week in and week out. 3 at the back and trying to pass it out only adds to the numbers of centre backs on the pitch and highlights their weaknesses. His loyalty to a poor goalkeeper adds unnecessary jeopardy. His midfield choices lead to us being very rigid and his reliance on less talented players like Rice and Mount is counter productive. One (heavily deflected) goal from 5 Nations League games is piss poor. We really struggle v the better teams. It may also be tempting to refer back to previous failed generations as a comparison as im sure you have done with the likes of Kean and Coyle here but the benchmark should be higher than that, the likes of Capello and Hodgson underperformed too. Southgate undoubtedly deserved massive credit for how we did at the last World Cup but with international tournaments they sometimes perhaps a bit more flexibility in regards to judgement is required because it is not as simple as a club season in which every team plays every other team twice. We only beat some very limited countries and a very favourable draw meant that although the games still warranted overcoming and as a result Southgate would leave with positive thoughts overall, there are plenty of valid doubts over whether he is the man to take us forward.

The goalkeeper Brooks has played 7 League games for Rovers over two spells, keeping 7 clean sheets in 6 wins. Last season she was at Birmingham City who are in the WSL playing behind Hannah Hampton who is regarded as one of the best English keepers although the ones playing for City & Utd (Roebuck & Earps) tend to get more attention. A lot of the Rovers team have histories with either Liverpool or Everton Academies (& a player on loan from Man Utd) so not surprising they would have wanted to make a point today. Today was a huge result because a lot of the team are new to the Club, young & still learning how to play with each other. That we have taken a point off a full-time team that was in the WSL last season (& beat us 8-0 in a Cup last season) is a big step forward. Yes we had to ride our luck at times but this team can continue to get better over the season. It was frustrating when the goal wasn't given so that we could have a free kick but to be fair I think the keeper had stopped playing because the whistle had blown.

We loved our visit to Ewood. The club treated us like royalty- two middle-aged Texans allowed to ramble all over the ground, dressing rooms, managers suite, 1875 boardroom, & hospitality area. I couldn’t have asked for a better trip... unless Simon Garner or Derek Fazackerley had been on hand to guide us!

Wilson Pickett - Land Of A Thousand Dances

Sad news. Des always seemed to be on television at weekends and as well as being a really good singer he had a great sense of humour. For us older gits who can forget the way Morecambe and Wise ribbed him in a good natured way of course.

He'd have to take his hands out of his pockets

I know Gav, I was in Sofia too which was kinda my point, along with many others in Europe like yourself. Funnily enough the one with the longest lasting memory for different reasons, was Krakow, where we managed to fit in a full day trip to both Auswitz camps. That did leave true goose bumps but for different reasons. Great trips all Gav, probably never to be repeated and even if they were to be, would never be the same somehow. (Age being one thing!)

I think Pulis is a busted flush.

This. Glen and the team were superb in the way they handled it and took a huge amount of unfounded undeserved flak from other supporters.

Me and my sons met Ray in Alcudia in 2003 and it was like chatting to an old pal talking to him about football. Lovely man and we also shared flights with John Robertson of Forest and Scotland on the same holiday and when we told Ray this he said “Please pass on my regards to him and his family if you’re on the same flight back”, which we were and we did. Sad day ?

Thanks. I've just checked mine and it too is £0.00. My query answered.

Done - hope I'm not too late!

Me too. Nobody ever questioned Speedie's commitment to the cause.

Indeed. I’ll never forget the abuse I got walking to my seat that day.

Oops, simultaneous posts there windy Toyah - It’s a Mystery

You could be right Stuart, managers date pretty quickly these days. I still think he should have enough about him to keep them up though.

Fisher got some game time during pre season, not sure he looked that great but yer, he will have moved on to accommodate Pears, who also doesn't look that great.

Strange move to sell, looked decent to me and made important saves.....oh wait, Mowbray's mates lad came instead ? and he doesn't even look like a goalie. We are being bled dry. Glad its the Venkys money and not mine.

Done

I'd have liked a comment box for the last question. In some ways its reduced my interest as it a poorer spectacle without fans but also I've got less options to entertain myself so my interest stays roughly the same

Done

Done; good luck!

Is it just me or does anyone else despise 'engage with' or 'interact with' something when what you mean is usually mean is 'watch, listen or do'?

Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours

I agree international football breaks are boring. And they should be much less international football for me especially with Covid around

No surprise there to be fair. Let's just hope they put Shrek in charge - that would be a giggle

Willful negligence and arrogant we can do it better ourselves have played a big part. Alongside staying complicit with proven incompetence just because they liked them. Very hard to have total sympathy. If you really are great business people you don't smash something to pieces that is already working. If it ends up that way through a series of events partly beyond your control you very quickly get on top of it and revert back to what was working before. Or cut your losses of course. What you don't is bury your heads in the sand and leave it to chance just hoping - and praying - that it suddenly gets better. It took about 7 years, a 150 million, 2 relegations and 3 audits to finally return to something resembling a functioning British professional football club. Some of that was just down to getting lucky with finally landing on a bloke who fit what we were at the time. So the sympathy vote is on hold.

When 3 rd party ownership was mentioned on here back then it was often shot down in flames but it came to light from that the club was actually under investigation for it. Nothing else has come to light apart from confirmation Kentaro did actually have a contract to run it from day 1 which is bad enough. It still seemed back then very much like a joint project by a big group of people with the Venky name over the door. I remain convinced that for a while at least other investors were on board and whiff of joint ownership was thick in the air for a while.

“Naive” and “Badly advised”... No doubt both of these things are true, but I’d say it’s also pretty indisputable they have also displayed massive amounts of arrogance and incompetence. Ignoring that and blaming everything on Jerome Anderson and absolving Venky’s is ridiculous. Apparently he was persona non grata when Coyle was appointed... although join the dots with the agents of all their managerial appointments since Bowyer and it’s apparent that the “lessons have been learned” line isn’t true. Like Glen and Philip have touched on, there’s nothing much new there for us, and plenty more that could have been said, but obviously it’s for the wider audience.

"will become"----always in the distance.