We can agree to disagree here Mike, everyone has a master, and ultimately the board sign off the marketing teams ideas or poo poo them. During the darkest of days, you'd be shocked how well the marketing team were doing, and that was under Shagnew. The last 5 years under the latest board, we have gone backwards. We've brought idiots in, and lost better people. Across the board, every department, its downgrade upon downgrade. My office in the same ground, how many times did Danny Davies come in and ask me to sponsor, fund initiatives? Zero!!!! Yet the community trust asked me to be back up sponsor of the 10k if WEC pulled out, and are always engaging. When the hierarchy is wrong it will always be to the detriment of the business. People dont leave bad jobs they leave bad managers.

The same Tata steel that needed public money to bail them out? Mind blown Steel incidentally is at its largest rate per ton ever, the steel industry is in a mess, we are losing companies weekly, with Cleveland bridge going bump last year. Steel price increases are seriously killing infrastructure with contracts not being able to be renegotiated whilst the labour shortage is a massive threat to our long term economy. I'm currently part of the team delivering HS2, the deficit in numbers with public money are scary

Love Dolan, felt TM didnt give him enough minutes last season and was out the team more than in. Also felt if Tm stayed Dolan may look elsewhere. He is still a kid, with his best years to come, hopefully thats here and JDT can reignite his career

Ok 11 months ago if we are being pedantic. Greg been at the club a long time, and during our darkest days did a hell of a lot of work to hold things together when others were failing. He has worked tiredlessly and hard and has always been loyal to the cause. You do know we have others in that department who were marching with yellow venkys out t-shirts, attended marches, waved banners in the owners faces? A smell of a job and boom heads turned.

This is wrong The model of DOF and Manager is universally accepted, it was pointed out at day 1 once Mowbray's departure was confirmed. Dont forget rovers appointed Park around 6 or 7 months ago, this was to be long term not short term, his role very much player recruitment. The DOF was never going to have input in the managerial appointment. This has been widely reported throughout. SW made a complete hash of the search. GB was found after a headhunter was appointed a couple of weeks ago due to concerns that wheels were not moving and a complete lack of confidence from India was very apparent. This is not the first time the Raos own advisors have recommended an interception. Broughton was brought to the Raos and spoke directly to them, who sold the vision, not SW. He was asked to get involved by them on the manager search front, as it was failing massively. He came up trumps straight away without any objections from SW and we've appointed now a credible DOF and Manager. I'm not overly concerned what SW says on the matter and may ask to see him myself this week, armed with the written literature and ask why we made such a balls up of the process. Employing people in your response to Josh is condescending, and what thats got to do with anything i dont know. Fyi lots on here are established, astute business men. I myself have been a director and shareholder at some large companies, including at one of the biggest employers in the area circa 900 employees, who in turn was one of rovers biggest sponsors. There is lots of positives in these appointments, and one or two other things However how the ship is being run is amateurish at best. Hearing Greg Coar has also gone (another long term, loyal employee) is another blow. I'm sure your efforts are well meaning, and if anything you get more grief due to others in your crew constantly sucking everything off on other social media platforms which is doing more damage to your cause than good. To be clear, everyone wants this latest chapter to be the best in the book, but be under no illussions, there has not been a shift in opinion. Absent supporters remain absent. New supporters will always come, and others walk away. However i have seen zero to get the thousands who walked away back, its more a defeatist attitude of "oh well they are gone, let's try and attract new .... fans".

Your best post for a long time, it couldnt be more transparent. Hats of to you. I think if you had posted this 12 months ago, you would of saved yourself a lot of grief. Also hats off to those at Ewood for taking the time, to give you a greater insight.

But they then lose a player for nothing as his contract runs out

Cantwell would be excellent, but with 1 year on his deal, no doubt decent wages surely they be pushing for a sale? If we could get any sort of deal here, it be up there with the Armstrong signing as a real coup for the club. I think the pre-agreed deal with Bournemouth was 11 million, and i'm sure if that was reduced to just half that, there would be a rack of clubs trying to get him. Just unsure we have that type of money, whilst a loan makes zero sense for Norwich

Sadly you can't change the past, only influence the future. Building a trust, is going to be a long road, given what has gone before. The scepticism is more than valid and understandable given the last 12 years Many of the above is opinion based on how people feel and the number of false dawns. Football is an emotional rollercoaster and many of our supporter base past and present are still hurting. Forgiveness, is not an easy thing, given the systematic dismantling of one of the best run clubs in England. Its 10 painful years since this club was in the premiership running on tight budgets but holding their own. People will support and follow what they can see, what is tangible and most of all, what is transparent. No-one wants anyone to fail, everyone wants the very best for Rovers, some willl take more convincing. This week is a good week, hopefully we get 51 more over the next 12 months, which takes away the worry and concerns people have. Respect is earnt, people dont take kindly to a post i saw on twitter this week demanding the supporters show their respect and gratefulness to Venkys. I dont like text format communication on msg boards as some people will always read it the opposite as you meant it. Its going to take time, building block by building block, its going to take leadership, but what it wont take right now is trust. Too much has gone on before which will be a barrier for some time. The club has to learn much better to respect its customer base. Throwing out comments of one town one club one community, which was the action groups slogan strangely, does not suddenly get everyone on board. Words are cheap, actions are louder.

I enjoy your post, in fact i enjoy 99% of peoples, not sure my wife does though, as she thinks i just get unsociable at home when im on social media. I like Paul, we've shared a pint etc, he has lots of friends around football, and is an all round nice chap

Paul, we've spoken a lot over the years, probably less so recently. You can believe or disbelieve any post/person, after all its a message board. As you should know more than most, if you interview 5 witnesses of the same accident, you will get different accounts. We all get told Allsorts, in my case i dont post 95% if it comes second, third or fourth hand. I try to detach myself from the emotional side on a messageboards, and if i post something its not an endorsement of that i agree or disagree with what i've posted. If you are telling me not to believe what the owners of our football club tell me, or share that, then it really is all lost. So many times what they say and what i'm reading or being told elsewhere is complete polar opposite. I make a judgement call on that information based on the facts that they have the ultimate deciding vote as owners/funders of BRFC. Its not about being right, wrong, misinformed, as anybody posting anything is posting what they hear. I will continue to support the club through the different forms I do, from buying my season ticket, to sponsoring games to buying corporate packages/merchandise. I will continue to support transparency and supporter groups who work tirelessly for free in the background to ask questions/inform the less fortunate (people who dont talk to the club). I will continue to read these boards and comment on things as a supporter, Whilst where I feel intervention/clarity is needed, I will get on the blower to india and seek answers. Contrary to popular belief, I dont find the need to badger them or other sources of information 24/7. They are all big boys and girls, and if anything i'm trying to enjoy just being a supporter with no connection to any individual group, movement who can enjoy the things i've taken for granted beyond football. It does get tiresome on msg boards , twitter, facebook, txt messages. i'm trying to limit my activity too as its just not good for me. I'm pleased supporters like you and others are optimistic and seeing green shoots, its something I do share in the correct quarters. I'm also optimistic. its probably why after all this time, I still try and communicate to the best of my ability controversial subjects in a professional manner and with supportive content to the owners or representatives of our club. They dont always answer, sometimes they can completely ignore you, but as its universally understood, they do have a different "class culture". On those occassions you seek clarity through other avenues. Anyway, hopefully admin hide most of these post, as its a positive day today, and im sure most people want to read about what the thread was intended for, or as the wise man said "take it outside boys"

I think, reading the responses to his appointment, this appointment has got most people in the "overthemoon" category. Its 100% a coup, more than what appeared to be possible given rejections and other names linked. Tickets are now flying off the shelf, they are both saying the right things and optimism is probably at its highest since the Raos were introduced to the rovers faithful on the pitch. I've not seen any post of people being underwhelmed. Its a massive step or two in the right direction, but not the only steps neededm Lets all hope its a new dawn and the good times start to roll, and we really become a serious proposition once more

Never spoke to him, I believe he is liked at Ewood, but probably least qualified of anyone they have put in at ewood, Vinneth Rao running him a close 2nd

You would hope so,

My point exactly, probably just not communicating it well

I think 95% really pleased with the manager, the DOF and excited for the new season. Debate, is not squabbling, difference of opinion all very healthy

At that time, this was very correct. In this instance though, they can't take all the blame. Just to clarify - I'm very much in the "we need new owners camp" However I have to balance things, and cant blindly let them take the blame for others incompetence bar they've employed them

I dont disagree Matty, its on them to decide if those at Ewood are doing a good job. They dont micromanage them and reviews are annual rather than monthly. This is 100% an issue. However it does not detract or take away any responsibility of those being paid handsomely to run the club on a day to day basis

I went on Holiday Paul, which i am allowed. Farke was the number 1 target, he was interviewed and walked away, i didn't do the interview and cant make him take the job, so your point quite pedantic. I won't reveal the sources, (note i said sources not source). I can assure you it is a fact, You seem intent on protecting those at Ewood, maybe because they've afforded you some time for a chat. However they and they alone are the barrier to progression, not the Owners.

Believe what you want, its your perogative. JDT has been perfectly transparent of when and who brought him into the process and how late it was. It played out exactly how I said, and without looking im pretty sure also the media stated the same. Green shoots you speak about, and remember we are discussing those at Ewood and not venkys. 1. Academy - what about it? Its been here a long time and has always been supported by the owners. So where does the swaggott green shoot come from? 2. Community work, has always been incredible from the community trust, hence I got offices in there for work, great people, work very hard and have done for as long as i can remember. Yusir's work has been great too, but again the club haa always done things like this pre and post venkys. Where does Swaggott get green shoots here? 3. Appointments look excellent and after ballsing the process up, we had to hire an external head hunter to find and negotiate broughton, who then in turn got JDt, please tell me the greenshoot here for Swaggott? The reality is Venkys have supported all the above, paid thr bills, continue to fund the club, but are massively being let down by those at Ewood. I'm shocked if your views differ to these, but "i dont believe" suggest i'm lieing and I do not tell lies, and have zero to gain by telling lies

Its not my understanding, they dont get involved in the nitty gritty numbers. They look at whats proposed, and those numbers are decided between Waggott and Cheston. All player contract negotiations are done out of ewood. There is lots that Venkys can be hit with a big stick with, but contracts is not one of them. They do not micro-manage the club. As i've said previously on here, the board is judged on money in, money out, and running a ship which shows healthy figures prior to the Raos top up fund. Regarding the new model, I really do not know. My opinion on the second point, is we wont get in this position with a wiser man/woman controlling this aspect. I think under Swaggott reign, its very much protect their own jobs and bonuses, by being tighter than a ducks ass

Wasted a lot of peoples time, and with it continued to show the traits as poor negotiators. Its not a wonder, players are having to be sold as they are in the last year of the contract. We have lost a number of players for nothing during this boards reign. The wage demands of the contract rebel three were not that bad, not asking for the world. The wise man would of signed them up last season, knowing if we didn't go up worse case scenario we could sell them and fill the coffers. The arrogance or gauntlet put down, of "if you think you can find better" never ends well in the clubs favour. It leaves us with zero transfer funds in, and us now pimping Brereton out. Its criminal they let those contracts run down, and also criminal they didnt negotiate a new one with Brereton. For this aione they are showing how out of their depth they are.

I think Curtis from Portsmouth will be one of our first signings, Talking to some on the Portsmouth side, they say he goes missing alot and has become a bit of a luxury. Personally always thought he'd be decent pick up

I watched a lot of their games, and found them very entertaining. Ultimately though its a results game, id take any brand if the end result is success

He deservedly got the England job, sadly it ended under controversial circumstances, would of been very interesting how he would of done with all that talent at his disposal