My argument would be, prior to this season, he's never been given a fair run to establish himself. He was in and out, shunted here and shunted there. It was clear to me from day one the lad had real talent and could excite the fans. When you have a talent like that, you nurture and give lots of tlc and then you end up with something special and a player who recognises what you've done for them. When you think of some of the nonentities who've curried favour with Mowbray and the way he's looked after them, it's a real sickener.

Glad you enjoyed your day. Personally, I think it's a dump of a ground in a dump of a town. No happy experiences for me there.

Point in bold is nail on head and why I think we will also lose Nyambe. Argued from day 1 that Rothwell has something special about him. He's a game changer. Needed nurturing and some tlc. IMO, Mowbray has seriously mismanaged the lad and If I was Rothwell, I'd feel I'd been messed about. Take the £6million as outcome for Rovers could be much worse if he walks for nowt. Keeping him against his will just wont work - he'd be half arsed and frightened of getting a serious injury.

He's 23 this year!!!

Good point in the circumstances. If anyone had any doubts, think today confirmed Butterworth will never be good enough for Rovers. We need at least three shrewd signings on Monday - four if Rothwell is off - otherwise we can forget promotion.

Bored with this. Just put £tenner on 2-1 Rovers at 37/1. Off to pub.

Nail on head! Very noticeable.

Seems like Khadra out today. Looked like a hamstring to me earlier in week.

IMO, echoes of how Rothwell has been treated prior to this season and also Nyambe. Raya was the same. Harrison Reed was another. Nurture talent and make such players feel special otherwise they get p1ssed off and eventually p1ss off at cost to the club.

Funny how the LT's Rich Sharpe is keeping his head down! You aren't telling me he's not aware of all tonight's speculation. If it's all crap, he could kill it at a stroke (and probably would be asked to by Waggott). Think his silence says it all. IMO, the big surprise will be if Rothwell is still a Rover on Tuesday morning.

Think he's with the Murdock Group. Ex Rover Marlon Broomes also works for them.

Don't do Instagram but told there's a family photo on his Mrs' account showing the family (including Joe) enjoying some family time just an hour or two ago.

He may well have, however, living and working in a lovely environment, great quality of life, financially set for life and a happy wife! Persuasive factors. Acid test is tomorrow. If Rothwell doesn't play he may well be offski.

Jacquob Crooke playing catch-up!!! Understand there's a real chance now of landing Bearne on loan before the window closes.

Any deal Rothwell moves for will dwarf his contract here and the bonus on the table that may or may not materialise. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush....................................!

I don't believe this. Think if Rovers offered £4m+ for Rothwell with less than 6 months to run on his contract and, seemingly, not interested in signing a new contract then he'd be gone. IMO, Mowbray trying to drive the price up for a last gasp sale.

Think at the end of this transfer window, we will know just how serious Venky's are in getting us back to the PL. I don't think Mowbray has much more , if anything, to play with for permanent deals. To me, I think the best we can hope for is to hold on to what we've got and add a couple of quality loans. Sadly, I very much doubt that will be enough to get us up.

The two names I've heard linked with loan moves to Rovers are Jack Bearne (would be a terrific signing - very highly rated) and George Nunn (needs 1st team game time and a better chance of Rovers getting).

This Rothwell business is reminiscent of when Rovers sold Fred Pickering to Everton back in March 1964 for a then UK record fee of £80/90k. It's a bit hazy in my mind but perhaps some of the older ones or the anoraks can help out. As far as I can recall, Rovers were either top or 2nd in the First Division (now the PL) with just 8 or 9 matches to go. Fred was sold and we went on to lose 5 or 6 games on the bounce and picked up just 3 or 4 points (2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw then) and we finished either 6th or 7th. Many Rovers' supporters never forgave the club. Hope history doesn't repeat itself.

Amazed no one has picked up on this cryptic clue! Even more important given Khadra's injury.

Great post.

Great fighting win and a nice little earner. Lotta bottle tonight. Khadra looks like he did his hamstring to me. Zeefuik looks an animal - wouldn't like to collide with him. Lenihan and Buckley outstanding. Travis like Tony Parkes more noticed when he's not playing - unsung hero!!!! Gallagher much better when he's played where he should!

Think 'Blue Nun' might be about to become very popular with Rovers' fans. I'll leave that one with you.

We are playing Middlesbrough who are 7th in Championship (admittedly on a good run) and not City the PL's run away leaders - some perspective called for. I'm going for a narrow Rovers' win tonight as I think Rothwell / Buckley will create / execute enough for us to notch a couple of goals. 9/5 for win and 21/2 for 2-1 are good value bets.

Bill Dunning, hells bells that's got the cogs in my head churning. Don't remember too much about the lad (think he disappeared into obscurity pretty quickly) but didn't he debut at 17 for Rovers and score on his debut after being part of the Rovers' youth team in the late 1960's that hammered Liverpool in the Youth Cup 4,5 or 6 nil?