JBiz

5 hours ago, steelcityblue said:

I think the older generation of Venkys are probably beyond kindling any interest in the club or even in being bothered to sell it (makes no sense I know) and the antipathy towards them from the fanbase is unlikely to ever change.  I've often wondered if there are any of their adult children who could be persuaded to take more interest in the Club and maybe try to re-engage with fans and champion the Club in family discussions. Glen Mullan hinted that there is at least one of this generation that he has talked to. If as seems the case Venkys don't want to sell for whatever bizarre reason then as a fanbase we can try and force them to see sense (through the coalition most likely) or find another way of developing a connection that restores some interest and taps into their considerable wealth more reliably (and a new generation of interested Venkys might just be acceptable to the fanbase...though they would have a lot of work to do). I'm just interested to know if anyone knows anything about the younger generation of Venkys and if they have any interest in football at all. All the evidence would suggest its unlikely I know.   Carrying on like we are is only going to end one way...downwards.. until we find a level we can afford to be at with the disinterest and underfunding Venkys senior employ.  Probably League 2 or National league.

Great question regarding the next generation of their family. 

10 hours ago, Mike Graham said:

No.  It is not the done thing.  At least one of them has gone to a competitor club.

Perhaps we need a nouvelle approach then, because the “done thing” hasn’t achieved anything as of yet!

It’s not as simple as this but surely there is somebody who has the “influence” (god I hate that term) to promote a bit of National coverage

31 minutes ago, Mike Graham said:

Yes, I also believe that is something the new WATR Board are looking at.

There has been keen interest in buying Rovers, information was passed to the club and SW confirmed to us that he was also contacted by a potential buyer.  The point of the post above re Preston is to show that there are buyers out there and to try and put to bed the idea that no one would want to buy us.

The stumbling block of course is that the owners, and their silent partners, do not appear to want to sell.

Have you ever encouraged one of these potential buyers to go public?

Obviously, not the “done thing” normally however it would be a newsworthy event, and it may be a better way of getting everybody on board re protest of ownership…

But what would I know! 

@Mike Graham you ever tried to engage new owners yourself? That might come across as pedantic in text but it’s a genuine question.

1 hour ago, Aqualung said:

It's a She if I can remember rightly. 

Apologies @KentExile if that’s the case!

Becoming a huge @KentExile fan cos people ask questions and he provides answers!

13 minutes ago, Hasta said:

Have we had any young players remotely ‘make it’ to some degree in our first team who were on loan at non-league level in their 20’s? Or indeed at any age 18+

(Genuine question, I can’t think of any)

Raya sprung to mind, can’t think of many others. 

@RevidgeBlue picking players you don’t like, one who hasn’t even played a minute yet, to suggest they’re only made to make someone money? 
 

That sort of viewpoint dilutes to what went on in those initial years. The stories of Etuhu, Murphy and Pudsey the bear; the millions tied up in those initial seasons, I’d say a huge portion of the 150m the club owes the owners in gift loans.

7 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

Wasn't Waggot the man who brought Eustace in ?

From various rumours and hints it seems he had a problem with the rest of them behind the scenes and not particularly Waggot who was clearly being sidelined at that point.

There has always seemed to be two factions wrestling behind the scenes at Ewood.

I think it was, I seem to recall some link to his playing days at Coventry coinciding with Waggott working for them but I may be wrong.

@aletheia

I can go for plenty of that. I would say that the main overriding difference from my perspective is the necessity of seeing what transpires on the pitch first.

Re “stuff”; Some of it has been questionable to say the least (he made someone cry? Come on ffs), and I just can’t fathom what people get out of putting it into a forum, when if some of it was as quantifiable as claimed, it would be in the news.

If a colleague of mine said or did something similar to another colleague, I’d deal with it professionally, not leak it to someone to post online.

22 minutes ago, Tomphil2 said:

It isn't them it's the men in the middle benefiting constantly from their lack of interest and cack handed approach and they don't care.

Basically third parties run this club for them by way of shadowman and his mates and every now and then they seem to get carte blanche.

Probably Waggot kept a bit of a lid on it but that doesn't mean he himself and his pals didn't benefit also.

That's football it's a murky world and when you have a 3 thousand mile or whatever it is void it becomes easy for the right people to sit in it.

That almost sounds like “badly advised” to me…. 😂 

15 minutes ago, miqaayil said:

ding ding ding ding ...... finally a kindred soul.. ppl keep asking what do venky's get owning us ......this is thier game ... not thier money running the show while earning kickbacks on every contract and sale... 

penny pinching billionaires and gang

Yea sure, I mean if your businesses combined are earning you 500m annually, you definitely need that 10% a month of the probable £1k a week Oldham are paying us for a loanee.

Maybe the kindred souls of BRFCS should get rid of the tin foil.

33 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

There is nothing to suggest that either left specifically because of him.

CEO. 

11 minutes ago, DE. said:

When it comes to arguing Waggott vs Gestede/Pasha it feels a bit like arguing whether being punched in the face or kicked in the stomach is better. Neither is a great option.

Waggott was, if nothing else, a canny operator who was able to do as instructed by keeping us in the Championship without spending a great deal. He had the ability to charm many who met him and leave them believing things weren't so bad. He was in many ways the perfect person for our owners to have in the CEO position, much like Mowbray was the perfect person for them to have in the managerial seat. With our chronic lack of serious ambition to go beyond trundling along in this division it boggles the mind as to why they'd want to remove either of them. 

Very good point first sentence.

Waggott and Mowbray did have the most money to spend re wages / transfer fee though and lots of the investments left for free, and spent money on loans every season.
 

If the opposite policy, which is probably enforced due to financial issues, being employed by Rudy (as sporting director or whatever title he has, I would hope Pasha has no input into football matters properly but I bet I’d be disappointed) puts us in turmoil, because the players coming into the club can’t cut it… the rationale grows for calling Rudy a failure.

re Pasha, he was around during the previous 15 years too (including SW/TM)- but being effectively chief exec, he is firmly in the firing line now, and I think that’s a good thing.

He has always been a failure.

8 minutes ago, aletheia said:

Again, I didn't say that..... 

Sorry, that’s my bad. I’d say you’re probably correct! JE*

@KentExile thanks for the research!

2 minutes ago, aletheia said:

Also, we could argue it was Pasha's decisions and general dysfuntion behind the scenes that caused that. And if you mean JE, I think RG had a large hand in that.

I’m not sure how JDT left because of RG, I would’ve said it was a budget change “mid project” and Greg Broughtnothing. You might know more than I though.

3 minutes ago, aletheia said:

It would be fickle if I had said previously that RG was ok or a good appointment. Surprisingly, I never did.

I don’t know what you’ve previously said about Waggott either.

It doesn’t really matter what definition we put on it, fickle, presumptuous, jumping the gun, not based on reality etc - Steve Waggott had a lot of time here and the paints still peeling off the fucking stadium, so it’ll take more than rumours about dress code to make me agree that the sporting director is more of a twat!

Like I said though, all arrows point to more failure, more managers walking because they’re not being backed and more turmoil! Hope I’m wrong. Only one personal responsible for that this season. His head is on the block.

1 minute ago, Hasta said:

Who was actually in charge?

Same question I suspect as who actually interviewed and chose Owen Coyle as manager? Something which has never been answered.

I don’t think that was Gestede!

Seriously though I don’t know, but there’s only been one “director” at Ewood ever since the owners darkened our door.

34 minutes ago, BRFC. said:

And that means we should trust Rudy the bully? 

You do you.

Just now, Mike E said:

I’ll put it this way. Rovers have had the ‘Loan Manager’ vacancy for a couple of months (based on Jones’ departure).

If it were common knowledge we were advertising for one, who on here would have thought ‘I bet Jordan Rhodes would be perfect for that’?

Nobody, but to compare his adequacy to the role to your own, is tantamount to the pub favourite “my Granma would’ve scored that”

2 minutes ago, aletheia said:

Not many are arguing with that. But is it ok if we suggest that RG is shit and shouldn't be anywhere near this club?

You can say what you want, but I’d call it fickle. I mean Steve was the guy who 2 managers actively forced their way from.
 

Yes, Rudy was around last summer as a part of the machine, but he truly now is the person who takes utmost responsibility for the football side. If his manager walks away before Christmas, and we’re flopping around mid table or at the bottom, then you will be correct and I will have more rationale for agreeing that he’s on the way to being as much of a twat as Steve Waggott.

There is no law against not being convinced or making your mind up by a certain time.

7 minutes ago, aletheia said:

Not fickle at all.

Most here still believe that SWAG was slippery, economical with the truth.

Many now believe that RG is worse.

5 years? I see -that's how long we have to give the new aligned plan before we can comment.

No, that’s how long we had used car salesman Steve in charge for pal, and he was shit.

1 minute ago, aletheia said:

I can read thanks -can you? See the latter part of the club's statement.

Linking with scouts is an additional responsibility aka scouting. Doesn’t mean he is in charge of who is coming here on loan, is that what you’re suggesting this means?

10 minutes ago, aletheia said:

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/september/03/rhodes-returns-in-new-rovers-role-/

He will also be tasked with building and maintaining strong relationships with loan clubs and will link in with the scouting department by attending matches and assessing potential player targets, to support the club's broader recruitment strategy.

“the former fans favourite will identify and arrange appropriate loan opportunities, both domestically and abroad, to ensure placements align with the club's player development pathway”

Main responsibility - Clarity! Aka outgoing loans to clubs where it suits a “philosophy”.