Tread carefully Chaddy. It's divide and conquer - you get cake they take your soul. "Everything is great, look at what we have planned. Sign this NDA and send your friends to see me" The Church of Venky. Don't drink the Kool-Aid

Not sure about that. Mowbray always referred to Suhail as the owners conduit. Why would he use such a word if he is actually the decision maker? Out of interest, if Suhail did make the decision do you know his reasoning? To use your terminology, 'He' is effectively one of 'Them' in the grand scheme of things. What role will he play now GB is in position ?

And then Waggott has to refer to Pune even if he agrees with GB's proposals. Balaji then requests a meeting with Madam D. who has no idea what he is talking about. Another club then snap up the player in question. Start again...

18 months ago nobody knew that Mowbray would have a melt down. I am sure he would still be in situ if he had kept quiet and popped over to India this summer. So the potentially positive move of appointing a new manager was done out of necessity. I don't see too many other 'signs of good things'. To me, insisting that the existing coaching staff were retained and poorly thought out ticketing prices indicate that nothing much has changed. Venky's are still in charge remember.

Please inform Steve Waggott: The GDPR rules do not apply in the UK after the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020.

The owners were responsible for not backing Lambert and appointing Coyle - that's what I would call a barrier to progression.

Just a bit of info I picked up regaridng Neil Critchley. Apparently he was getting itchy feet at Blackpool for one reason or another. He made his feelings known and Blackpool said they would not stand in his way if he wanted to move on. So he was 'unoffically available'. Rovers approached Critchley and talks were held at quite an early stage in our managerial recruitment process. More talks were planned but Critchley decided he didn't want to follow up his initial interest in the job. The Villa Job was not on the table at that point but he may have had some insight that it was a possibility - who knows?

And the experience, contacts, skills and ability? It's a big jump from Acadamy coach in the Norwegian league to DOF at Blackburn Rovers.

I thought it was the other way around

You talk in riddles my friend.

I don't doubt your info at all but how is it possible for the focus of their attentions to be changing on a daily basis ? I know the whole process is taking a long time but the names in frame over the last week or so have been changing with the wind. It doesn't seem possible that a rigorous process is being followed if targets are identified, interviewed and dismissed ( or proven unattainable ) in such a short time span - especially if everything needs to go through Pune as we know it does. And all the while, Ainsworth ( a reasonably popular choice amongst the fans ?) is available, willing and able but Venky's don't like him! I am convinced they are waiting for Mowbray's contract to expire before making an appointment.

So they budgeted to pay 2 managers at the same time - Sorry I don't believe that for a minute. I said I don't believe the approach for Deila is a serious one, I didn't say it hadn't happened - they may have enquired but I don't think they will follow it up for the reasons I mentioned - mainly compensation which they will avoid if they possibly can - history suggests this so it is not blind speculation.

I've thought all along that Venky's won't actually want to appoint anyone until Mowbray's contract is up or very near the end - why pay two managers? I don't even believe the Deila approach is serious - we know they don't want to pay compensation so why go into a big battle to prise someone away from another club knowing they will be after as much compensation as possible if we succeed. It will justify the 'we did all we could' narrative I guess.

Ainsworth ?

Not sure what to make of this appointment yet. I had never heard of Gregg Broughton and have only done some quick research but he doesn't get too many mentions in the on-line analysis/discussion of Bodo/Glimt's recent success. They have a DOF/head of sport called Aasmund Bjørkan and he seems to be the main spokesman and gets a lot of the credit. I could fully understand if we approached him Broughton seemed to work with the very young players - as you would expect as he was head of the academy. Jumping from that role to DOF at Rovers is a big leap. Would we ever consider promoting Stuart Jones from his current role at rovers to be DOF? I can't see Knutsen coming to work under someone who was a few steps below him in the pecking order at his previous club. I really hope it goes well.

I think the right hand simply ignores what the left hand is doing. Even though he may be conducting interviews, Waggott has no real clout with Venky's. Suhail won't contribute anything substantial and just reports to Venky's what they want to hear. Venky's talk to agents and other advisors and make their own decisions based on their own agenda. Intentionally dysfunctional.

Exactly. How many rounds of interviews did Waggott go through and how many other candidates were interviewed? He just waltzed in with a nod and a wink from the right people.

This says everything about our owners - no respect for anyone, even people who care for the Rovers and are trying to help. They won't communicate with Rovers Trust - a group who's sole purpose is to ensure that the club ( 'their club' ) has a healthy future. I know that even Steve Waggott sometimes has trouble getting answers from them and Mowbray obviously gave up trying. They don't deserve to be in the privileged position that they are. Don't really care who the new manager is while Venky's are still here. Their behaviour is unforgivable.

It seems strange to me that Ferguson's odds have suddenly shorthened enough to make him favourite for the job at the same time that Rovers have announced that the 'short list' has increased from 5 to 8 and that they may approach some 'in-work' managers on top of that. Surely this points to the fact that we are nowhere near making any final decisions and that anyone interviewed so far has not impressed enough to have their odds shortened to make them an obvious favourite. Doesn't add up at all. I can't see Ferguson's personality and unruly history appealing to Madame V

The 'first round' of interviews will count for nothing if there was no input from India. A bit like the judges vote in the Eurovision Song Contest. Waggott has as much influence and power as Cheston did in 2016. Venky's won't take any notice and will do their own thing, ignoring all previous opinions. Anything could happen.

I am convinced that Venky's were planning to extend Mowbray's contract this summer. He decided to not renew and it probably took them by surprise. No planning will have been in place and we know they work at a snail's pace anyway. Mowbray still has another month on his contract so what's the rush? Venky's (India) had their AGM in mid May so they are probably all on holiday anyway.

Given QPR's similar league position, similar budget, similar FFP worries but a more recent premier league history, a well respected DOF already in place and the 'advantage' of being in London, I wonder why Carvalhal and Farke are not being mentioned at all in connection with the manager's position there ? or any others in England for that matter. If we are led to believe that these two well respected managers have actually applied for the job at Ewood then I would think they would be on other club's radars too and be considering their options- QPR and Burnley for example. Maybe it's all just pie in the sky or wishful thinking from our point of view. Really not confident there is any substance in these stories.

I wish I was as convinced as you are. Remember, Mowbray is still being paid until the end of June - why pay two useless managers at the same time ? Venky's are in no rush.

So the owners of the football club cut communication with the team manager when there was a very real chance of the team making the playoffs - I'm sure that was in the best interests of the club! Did Mowbray do something to upset them or are the just not interested at all. I suspect there was never much contact between the two parties and Venky's were just expecting Mowbray to turn up in the summer and get a new contract. That's probably about as much forward planning as they have ever done.

Not for me. I've got some nice souvenirs