Firstly, you don't need any excuse - it's a free world. However, if a ticket is normally £27 but £30 on the day it is a consideration to some people. If the surcharge puts one person off then Rovers lose out by by £30 so it takes 10 other 'walk ons' paying an extra £3.00 to make up the difference. It would be far preferable to get all 11 fans paying £27 in the ground and get (very nearly) the same income. If it never puts anyone off and everyone is happy to pay the surcharge then Rovers income is up slightly but not great for PR

I completely agree with you on Mowbray's record and suitability as Rovers manager - there is no question that he is the right man and doing a great job. I also agree that nobody can judge Brereton yet as he hasn't had the chance to prove himself. This thread exists purely because he cost a vast amount of money. I am just not sure that any manager would have chosen to spend 80% of his transfer budget on a player that is unlikely to get a starting place in the first team. That's why I think Mowbary was perhaps not the instigator of Brereton's signing. Having said that, it is not necessarily a bad signing - it could turn out really well - who knows?

Maybe this is a Venky signing and Mowbray didn't have much say in it?

I think you are right with this assessment. Maybe it wasn't his decision.

I was talking to a Rovers' scout a couple of weeks ago. His remit is to report only on young (23 or below) British players who are proven at their particular age levels ( ideally international appearances), will accept a reasonable wage ( he didn't know what this figure was ) and will increase in value over a 2 year period. That's it - Rovers will not permanently sign anyone who does not fit this description. That is what he understands ( not sure if Rothwell or Bell fit completely !) He was not aware of any Rovers scout watching Brereton or any reports sent directly to Mowbray - but he admits he wouldn't necessarily know this anyway but sometimes he hears things on the scouting grapevine. He thinks the fact that Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea definitely had scouts watching Brereton last season made it a bit of a coup for Rovers to get him but he was not necessarily Mowbray's choice. He just ticked all the boxes and was seen as an investment. Loans and free signings are entirely in Mowbray's hands but permanent signings, so he has been told, could be more of a club decision based on the above.

That's the way polls work Chads. You ask a number of people and extrapolate to give an idea of how a larger number of people might vote. 14 out of 70 IS significant. Especially on a message board for dedicated fans. I'm not one of the 14 by the way. I don't have Sky and a red button would never keep me from a Rovers game if I could possibly attend. On the other hand, Venky's ARE keeping me away from Ewood and it's still away matches only for me.

It's only a small sample but the poll tells us that over 12% of fans are already influenced by the red button and 6% are undecided. Assuming the undecided are obviously wavering because they feel they may be influenced at some point, that's a large percentage of dedicated fans who may not go to a game at some point due to the availability of the red button. Over 18% in total. When you consider that the people who spend time on this site are probably Rovers 'addicts', that says a lot. The figure is probably higher than 18% among fans who have an interest in Rovers but only attend now and again. So it looks to me like the red button may have a big influence on attendances at all clubs given those figures.

Wow, £120. Be interested to know how many takers there are at that price.

Managers should never be rewarded for selling players at a profit. How would anyone trust that their transfer activity was for the good of the club and not self motivated?

A 6 year deal is of benefit only to the manager not the club. If the manager is sacked he will receive a massive pay off. If he fancies a different job he simply resigns from his current post. He doesn't have to commit to staying the full 6 years. 3 years is enough to give security for the manager and continuity for the club. If that then leads to another 3 years then thing must be going really well and everyone is happy

Nearly eight years already ? Time flies when you're having fun!

Patrick Bamford?

JHRover also stated that he didn't think 4 x £2million would have been authorised. Maybe we should be asking which available £6/7 million player would have been a good signing and an immediate impact at Rovers?

Anybody pay the £3.00 last night ? It would be interesting to know if the club feels the extra revenue is worth it when considering the possible deterioration of fan satisfaction. If one fan decides to stay at home due to the £3.00 late fee, it will take 10 late payers to replace the income of that one fan. False economy

The exploitation and control of certain aspects of our lives by VENKY'S continues largely unchallenged by those who buy their products.

For an evening match that starts at 7.45 pm, how many fans are at the ground by 6 pm ? Especially if you work until 5 or 5.30 pm. I would say the majority of 'walk ons' for an evening match will have to pay the (post 6 pm) £3.00 extra. I believe the intention of the hike is to try and get people to the ground early so they spend money there ( food, drink, club shop) rather than go home for tea and turn up just before kick off. The surcharge also discriminates against fans who travel further and can't possibly make it for 6.00 pm after work. It would be more honest to advertise the tickets as £31 ( JWU ) with £3.00 discount for early birds. It is nonsense to compare the surcharge with theatre thickets and other events because they normally have no problem selling out. Rovers have thousands of spare seats each match to try and fill.

Venky's AGM coming up AGM 26/09/2018 This is to inform you that, the 42nd Annual General Meeting of the members of Venky''s (India) Limited will be held on Wednesday, 26th September, 2018 at 10.30 a.m. at Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden Hotel, Raja Bahadur Mill Road, Near Pune Railway Station, Pune "Any other Business?" "Yes - Do we still own that Soccer team in UK?" "I think so, maybe - It's all gone very quiet. Do we have a man over there ? Who knows?" "Any important questions?"

The red button on my TV just seems to switch it off! I think I'm missing something

I thought so. But if that is the case then what is the point in ending the permanent transfer window early when this is, in effect, a permanent transfer?

Genuine question, no judgement of Brereton's abilities at all, but how does the 'loan with a view to permanent move' work ? Are we committed to signing him or can we simply send him back in January if things don't work out?

I remember when the ST used to be like a book of raffle tickets. The ticket number for each game was posted above the turnstile and was seemingly selected at random from the remaining numbers in the book. There was always a little bit of panic as I flicked through the book of tickets convinced that the required number was missing and I would be left outside Ewood while all my mates strolled in.

I am sure the club must have known about the assault and his need to do community service. It was public knowledge and even mentioned on this message board a few times. We all know that the club keeps up with BRFCS!

Approval from Pune?

I think you are spot on here. I don't think Madam D will be signing any cheques while Venky's are still under ASM. The earliest this will be lifted is 1st August but more likely September or October. Has any money been spent at all this summer? - Maybe Oxford have been paid but City may be happy to wait a while. As you say, new contracts don't require cash up front. Mowbray has stated deals are close and he understands why they are not being completed. I'm convinced it is cash flow from Pune. Trying to sort out settlements with other clubs with no cash up front is obviously going to be difficult - maybe impossible!

Cost cutting? - not going to figure in 1st team so let someone else pay his wages?