The Axe

I think you've put your finger on where the transfer window went wrong. Pretty sure that Mowbray's priorities were an experienced reserve goalkeeper and Bauer. Fielding wanted to come back to Blackburn but whilst trying to negotiate his release he got injured. Pretty sure we missed Bauer through Levy type bidding and letting Charlton sell their other Centre back before a move was made. Believe that late on Mowbray went after Foderingham but obviously that came to nothing. Probably all tied up in getting the Brereton deal over the line. Suspect none of this was Mowbray's fault.

Can't disagree with your points but suspect that Waggott was brought in for a few reasons, one being that he has a track record of engaging with the grass roots at a club. Strangely from personal experience I have found that the club already had several people who were doing this work excellently. I suspect also that Waggott promised them he could increase attendances and this is something that may come back to haunt him. However I think that Suhail Pasha is in charge of the club, working to Mr Desai's instructions. I doubt that Pasha could have got a work permit to work as CEO but the requirements of communicator were so specific that only he could have done the job. Having Waggott as figure head allows Pasha to sail under the radar. Interestingly on the launch of the "new team" (all of whom appeared to already to be doing their jobs) Pasha was also described as Business and Management Consultant.

The struggle for the soul of the club commenced on day one. There were about thirty clubs in the town when John Lewis decided to form a new one. Reasoning that money was the key he invited the sons of the mill owners and tradesmen to become the first members. In doing so he was taught a swift lesson as those he had invited voted to keep him from the office he wanted, secretary. He soon got his wish because the wealthy elite found the job demanding and tiresome. Lewis lost control of the club in 1897 when it became a limited company and the purchase of most of the shares by the mill owning families gave control to Richard Birtwistle, Lewis attempted to galvanise the small shareholders (shop keepers and clerks in the town) to help him re-gain control but he was easily defeated and resigned his directorship. From then there has been little change. A consortium of wealthy industrialists and tradesmen have controlled the club. After the First War there were attempts to change the voting rights to give the small shareholders (IE supporters) a say but they were quickly crushed. Before the Second War Alderman Critchley attempted to organise a place on the board for a small shareholders representative but he was defeated every time. The power of the board was so great that they could conspire to remove from office Blackburn's greatest son, Bob Crompton, whose greatest offence was to be recognised as the club's leading light. After the war nothing changed. Many of the directors of the club were openly contemptuous of the fans which led to the fiasco of the Final tickets in 1960, a consequence of which the club lost 30% of its fans overnight. The levels of attendance of 1959 and 1960 have never returned. Even so the club was slow to respond and it was not until Bill Bancroft took over that the importance of the fans' view was recognised. The appointment of one of the unsung heroes, Keith Cafferty, brought a voice close to the fans whose views Bancroft more often than not listened to. Since that time the club has slowly moved to listen to the fans. It is a red herring to assume that control of the club by one man, Jack Walker, changed the dynamics of the situation. Walker knew well the necessity of crowd support which is why he replaced the popular Terry Ibbotson with John Williams, a man who had trained in giving the public what they want. That changed overnight when Venky's took over. In their defence Indian friends inform me that considering the views of supporters is unknown in the country. Which can be the only explanation behind utterances such as "a few people generating thousands of mails" and the generally recognised smear campaign against the fans. There are signs that the club has realised that they have been misdirected and the appointment of Myers and Waggott can be interpreted as recognition of the fact but this has been a very small step. Stuart is one hundred per cent correct and history supports him. Protest has an effect. I doubt Bancroft, the most opinionated and curmudgeonly of men would have appointed a commercial manager if he had not seen that fans were staying away. As a follower of the club since 1952 and a season ticket holder since 1960 I can only applaud those who still struggle to try and ensure that the club is aware of the importance of the fans and do not simply accept the status quo.

It works fine. Waggott just not involved in important decisions.

Suspect the long contract might have altered his principals.

Totally agree but I think the situation matters to us a lot more than it does to Venky's.

Venky's might pull the trigger but not before someone else loads the gun. Allardyce went on Anderson's recommendation, Kean, Berg and Appleton on Shebby's. Bowyer was fingered by Suhail Pasha who got burned by the Lambert appointment and has become more cautious. Hence the delay in getting rid of Coyle even when goaded to it by Senior. Its going to take a long run of bad results before Pasha sticks his neck out again.

The lay offs Lowe gives the players in these drills appears to nullify the object of the exercise. Recipient has to chase after it, bring it under control and work back to create an angle. Thought the idea was to hit the ball early. Yet the coach in my grandson's under ten side appears to have no problem with this drill.

The key is that Venky's think they can make millions from a re-sale of Brereton which is why they took the gamble. Obviously can't sell Brockhall as they would like.

Absolutely agree. It all smacks to me of Mowbray clearing the decks to get Bauer in and then couldn't get him.

Or told to let them go so he could get someone in, which never materialised.

Bowyer's mate Tommy Johnson spotted the players he brought in.

How soon before Nursey informs us that he was brought in to clean up the mess?

Theoretically but not sure that Bowyer called the shots on that one. Think Venky's were too tempted by the fee for a player who was not in the first team.

Can't see much to argue with here although Reed's pre-Christmas form surely is as much as Armstrong has produced. Also should not Lenihan get some credit for wanting to head the ball.