QPR being fined 40m is certainly a problem for them, and the minute it goes through the courts - Newcastle, Leicester, Bournemouth and a few others will be getting a knock on the door!

I’m guessing we’re talking 25%. In some ways I completely agree on Evans, but I guess at times he’s actually done a decent job. If he does leave, the memory of him will be he was better for NI in his time here, and normally injured for us.

Powell, Mulgrew, Evans, Shaun McDonald, Graham, Bennett, Ward. League 1 top earners

If someone’s saying to me, I’ve got £x to spend, and I know that a backup right back is going to cost me a % of that, including paying off the 4th choice; Caddis... Id say it’s pointless unless the player became available for absolutely the correct circumstances. All my £ is going towards those keys areas. I also think Nyambe is getting better all the time too. He’s got the stuff you can’t teach, the physical stuff - and whilst he was another proponent of our poor season two years ago in the championship, I think he’s moved forward. Deserves a chance.

You said it yourself, Nyambe, Travis, Bennett, Caddis. 4 players in a squad that can play there. If Nyambe is given August-Christmas to make it his full time slot, there’s literally no point in investing limited budgets that way imo. It’s the same conversation as Raya needing cimpetiion. If he sinks, Travis gets a shot if Bennett is playing elsewhere. If both of them sink, and there’s no space for Bennett, it’s covered. If all three are injured, the pogdy Scotsman will do a “job” till Christmas. When we’ve literally 2 wingers in the club- I wouldn’t spend a single pence on anything before at least 1 wideman! 2 if possible. The next priority for me would be Armstrong for at least another year. After that would come an extra CM to challenge/better Evans and partner Richie, and then finally that nasty 6 foot plus Centreback I mentioned. Cant see much room left if we sign 4/5 players unless a few leave. It would also block travis’s opportunities - someone I think looks very able, even if I’ve seen more of him in the centre. I can understand why Stuart and others rate him as a full back, he has the attributes, strength, bite, pace and can read a game.

You must’ve missed the “imo” at the end... You’re welcome to think what you want.

With Leutwiler and Fisher included, it would be an utterly pointless decision to spend any of our budget on new goalkeepers imo.

What sums? Firstly, I don’t credit them for their personality JHR ala kindness, benevolence, and I doubt anybody else who has been thankful for the constant funding thinks like that either. It’s almost certainly down to keeping the facilities, the grade one academy and for last years expenditure to give us a way to immediately return. Secondly - if they don’t have much choice, and you say they have no chance of getting the money back, why on Earth are they still allowing the debt to build? Even if they use it to lower cost of tax in India, they still “have a choice” to how they fund the club. Nobody likes Venkys. They screwed us royally. The fact haunts us, we are bankrolled by them for some reason, if only they’d spent some of that Best/Murphy/Etuhu 30m the way GB spent 3m. If only they’d spent another 15m less paying off managers. You equate it to a house in disrepair, Id compare it to rebuilding your house with broken bricks that cost £3000 each. Eventually you’ve got to change builder. The first did so much damage we’ve only just got our roof back on after finding a nice dependable North Eastern firm... Why we need to be reminded of this frustration through share price stats, is something I bet we’d agree on. I find it embarassing to think any Burnley fan @sympatheticclaret would feel inclined to talk on a Rovers forum, especially when the point seems the average view from a dingle; “Rovers have had constant investment that Burnley have had to earn”.. Surely there is a message board for you to discuss which 30+ year old British ex premier league club free signings you’ll be looking at this summer? Gaz Baz is on a free... The problem with this issue, they’d be quite happy to see their club invested in with plans to move forward (just read Mr Garlick back in April), and they’d be walking away in droves, protesting and sailing down the league if it went tits up like ours did. Most dingles wouldn’t admit it, but if they started signing players for daft fees, making big statements - they’d not value the achievements any less. Their dream is our nightmare; costs>turnover. The question I’d be asking if I was unfortunate enough to be from Bunla; “Is our board ever going to invest, namely some of the 27m profit posted this past year?” Shhh don’t mention the “bad advice”...

Would the hypothetical scenario of promotion and consolidation in the premier league be the only worthy outcome of respite from discontent for the ownership? Genuine question, no straw-man or baiting. For me, the answer to that is yes but, they’d still be remembered firstly for their absolute negligence, but I’d at least be in a position to say they’d hired some decent professionals to run the club, and left alone.. That’s the real key part for any club, most clubs are in the same boat; Someone said “one more dodgy decision/hiring” of someone from disaster, of words to that effect. Previously, a finance director, a shelf salesmen, a Malaysian pundit and an Agent who helped broker the sale of the club have all had some say.. Can we trust Waggott if it does turn sour with TM? At least we are talking about someone with experience in football this time.... if he’s trusted to. We know the Cheston/Warnock/Coyle multiverse well. “Willing to accept our dumbing down”, or what I’ve got? Well not really much of a choice if I still want to watch my team really. Do I accept the reasons for certain decisions? Nope. Do I accept the appropriate apology or response has ever arrived? Nope. Do I think they remotely understand the level of anger, embarrassment, frustration and sheer horror that thousands of us have experienced.....No! The Raos’ job will likely be done the minute they sell up, but not a minute before. 12 months on from the last meetings in India, we are at least a level nearer some form of “redemption”.

I agree on that but I’d like to see 4 natural centrebacks at the club. I know Williams is a good cover, but I think we’d be screwed with Downing as our only option elsewhere. Not a single one is a “route one” defender. Maybe Wharton is the answer?

I think we lack a bit of nastiness and ugliness. Our record defending set pieces is also quite poor, we aren’t a big team at all.

Shifting 12 first team players and replacing them with lower earners, and spending about 2 million - that’s modest backing, and I’d expect the same type of “modest” backing this season. Ok, they could’ve cut it to the bone last year, It’s much cheaper to be a big spender in league 1. Few of those who free up wages replaced, maybe a million or two in fees. As a priority, I wouldn’t want to move any of those backup players on or spend funds replacing without signing two new wingers personally.

Since we both know major investment is unlikely, you’d choose to spend what little money we have on replacing backup players like Leutwiler, Downing, Caddis et al, when we’ve an academy full of players who “achieved” something last season Stuart...? Now I am confused.

It’s been around the 9th of June in the past, but I think it’s going to open end of May because transfer windows are shutting three weeks early before the season starts this year.

Yes, but how many other clubs racked up nearly 50m in losses, three seasons in a row, and had little to show for it bar a huge wage bill? Yes, QPR, Boro, Wolves etc flouted FFP, but it ignores 95% of the scenario to forget that they probably got some decent value for their investments... we ended up spending at least another 30m paying off the players and managers. QPR are in a similar position to us now, and they are still potentially facing a 40m fine as far as I’m aware, which ultimately means Bournemouth/Leicester/Wolves et al could be moved on for similar if it goes through. We already had an embargo in 2015 too- I’m not sure if it’s impact at the time, but I’d prefer the club to be in a position to move players in if we need to change manager near a transfer window. Anyway, my thoughts on a potential squad for next season and areas to bolster; Goalkeeper; Raya and Leutwiler. Raya is ready for the challenge again and if Leutwiler ever struggles as deputy we have the u23 lad Fisher. Left Full back; Williams and Bell. I expect us to rotate both again, depending on set up/opposition. Williams is also an able CB backup. Right full back; Nyambe deserves another shot to step up, he’s improved a lot for me since his first inclusion in the championship. Travis, Bennett and Caddis (two year deal?) offer depth in this role. Centreback; Mulgrew, Lenihan, Downing (Williams). If we play two, I think Mulgrew and Lenihan are decent but for better cover or a stronger 3 option, I would potentially look to sign a new “big lump” centre back Wingers; Currently only Conway (id probably let go unless it’s a 1 year cheap deal) and Bennett; who is probably a better CM these days, often covered by strikers shunted wide. This is a position I’d like to see some investment- Samuel could potentially grow into this role but I’d rather we get someone who can turn a defence around and put the ball in the box. Midfielders. Smallwood and a replacement for Evans would be my choice moving into next season but I don’t see it happening considering what Evans earns. Whittingham, Travis, Tomlinson, Bennett and a few others can play this role so I doubt we will strengthen much here. Forwards; In terms of attacking options- if Dack has Gladwin for cover, it saves investing in someone like Payne to sit on the bench. That said, Gladwin has looked poor so a prolonged injury to Bradley would be grim. Striking options in Danny Graham, Samuel and perhaps Armstrong for another season or a permanent- I’d be suited with that, considering we’ve got Nuttall and a few other options coming through. Total; Potentially a Centreback, a big lump style- someone that strengthens you at set pieces on their own, at both ends of the pitch. Potentially another box to box effort like Richie, perhaps a touch more on the technical side. Finally, at least one, preferably two wide playing midfielders, pacy. Couple of loans, one or two free’s or cheap signings to keep the team spirit together. I don’t think 5/10m is a realistic idea. Id also like to think the club will withhold any funds or wage room for January should the worst happen!

I’ll remind you, our club (countless examples but what better than one in our shirt) paid 2/3 million a season and 8 million for a striker who’d never played in the championship. He then went on to top score in the division. The idea that we’d sell someone for less than half that, 5 years on when parachute payments are 3x.... deliberate attempts to get a reaction knowing you are talking crap.

You’d have to be short sighted as “ferk” to think the reason we got relegated was simply down to “they sold all our best players and got relegated”. Do you even acknowledge the simple fact they signed off the signings, the contracts and the managers we had, that put us in so much debt? It’s a rhetorical question because discussion with you is pointless. The likes of you telling me such is akin to being labelled an idiot by the town moron.

All clubs are selling clubs. It’s about scenario. The Rao’s could’ve put more in but I personally believe the better long term route was to put an end to the years of posting huge losses. Of course, they could’ve put 20m in transfers and wages around those key ones that left, but that fact in isolation ignores the probable outcome of that - the previous record of poor managers appointed, the “chairman” you name costing the club millions, The ever decreasing turnover and support, all the issues in squad depth, youth setup, scouting and staffing that constant upheaval of management can cause. I can’t imagine a scenario prior to league one that would’ve taken us up. If Brighton stayed in the championship for another season or two - you can imagine they might’ve suffered in a similar way, having to cut back. The continuity in direction and clever investment over a sustained period pushed them forwards. They built a team and squad sensibly without parachute payments, and it paid off. If Fulham stay at this level, I can see a few players leaving. I don’t personally think there’s much of a difference between selling to a premier league team and a championship rival, it’s still losing a quality player. Newcastle signed Hanley originally, in the championship too.. I wouldn’t call that “setting the tone”. You say you won’t be suprised if Mercermans theory of him leaving for 3 million, I cannot agree. I’d be shocked and mortified personally. It would be a flash back to more idiotic venkys decisions, and I couldn’t see TM or the club management accepting such an insulting price. If someone offers daft money... I can imagine that scenario!

Didn’t they sell Scott Malone To Huddersfield 2 years ago, you know... them who got promoted? And Ross McCormack the year before to recently relegated Villa?

The Brighton team that sold Ulloa that season - and swelled their turnover to 25 million without parachute payments because they’ve filled the Amex every week for nearly a decade? Fulham, a team with turnover 3x ours at that time, who owe about half of what we do to our owners? Our financial situation was comparable to Bolton not Brighton. Dwindling revenues, a half empty stadium and a team full of players needing paying off. It doesn’t take much more than a skim through recent reports, financial analysis etc - to see the club hasn’t got the same burdens- remember the figure they initially said “5 million” a year... we laughed at the time, but they ended up spending 100+ on literally nothing. To expect them to plug the gaps in 2015, and use the fact that they didn’t as potential for more key player sales - it’s disingenuous imo.

You don’t seemed to have learned from the experience and consequences of letting Snakean and the boys sign off 50m+ plus in wages and fees to put us near the foot of the championship. Now is a different scenario, we aren’t (as far as I’m aware) shipping nearly as much coin for nothing in return. There was always going to be sales when we posted nearly 50m in pre tax losses in one season. Comparing now to then; 13/14 and the years that followed it, is a little bit unfair- considering the reduction in wages, and potential levelling of turnover. Every club is a selling club, dependent on scenario. Two of the championship clubs of the three whom signed Cairney, Hanley and Duffy- achieved promotion and the other is in the playoffs. What did the x million’s invested in the likes of Best, Murphy, Etuhu, a load of Portugeezers, and the diamond in the rough; Rhodes et al get us? A noose of debt that could’ve levelled the modern infrastructure at the club. Whilst I’m not confident of any major success, I am quite alleviated of worry because of how they (the owners) responded last season. Could’ve easily cut it to the bone. I think they’d resist any offers for Dack, or anyone for that matter (remember Lenihan to sheff United?) unless it’s crazy money or TM wants shot. Might happen, maybe. But as likely as “the -2 million a month years”? No way.

He means Venky’s might pull the rug from under Tony’s feet and sell him for an offer they deem worthy! In the 8 seasons they’ve been here, I can only really think of Cairney as a similar example, however when we sold him, and the two centrebacks the year after, we had a much bigger % of wage to turnover, something like 200%.

Fair hilarious that!

Jordan Rhodes? + now parachute payments are 50m more. Move with the times Merc

@Stuart Good or bad omen? Personal opinion, Number 10s don’t always need pace, and the way Dack gets his arse in the way, I can see him being useful higher up. In terms of his likelihood of sale. I’d be happy to admit I’m wrong if it happens, but I don’t see it based on the last 12 months unless the recent direction from India changes. For every agent telling them or him to accept bids/contracts, there will be others telling him he’s likely one good season away from 40/50k a week, why move to a team you might not be first choice?