JHRover

The Hemmings family 'unwillingly' inherited PNE from Trevor after he died. They've been willing to stump up the shortfall each year in the time since he died as custodians of the club and to allow them to remain competitive in the Championship, but probably haven't got the clout or interest to do it long term or make a big difference by Championship standards. A bit like the Walker trust - left with something they didn't really want but sensible enough to keep it ticking over. Despite that they have done things that our wonderful benevolent billionaires haven't such as looking after their stadium, not gutting the squad every window, not forcing out their managers every February, offering reasonable ticket prices etc. and all for lower annual losses then we manage, ain't it amazing how they do that? But they want rid if they can find someone so have made it known they are available and waited for serious interest to come along. That may or may not have happened with this American/Saudi bloke, or they may need to wait longer, but they will run the club properly in the interim. Unsurprisingly there is interest out there including from overseas in 'small' loss making Championship football clubs, just as those of us with any sense knew, which ought to put a stop to the 'who would buy us?' nonsense. A bit like the foreign consortium exploring buying Colchester United. The reason there is no public information about interest in Rovers is that nobody can get past first base, because we have a group of reclusive idiots who for some unfathomable reason seem content to keep hold of the club and run it into the ground whilst it costs them upwards of £10 million a year. You could put Bill Gates and Elon Musk together on a stage outside the Blackburn End with a loudspeaker declaring their wish to buy Rovers for £1 billion and it probably wouldn't make a shred of difference - because those creatures in Pune wouldn't hear it and even if one of them did they wouldn't deal with it in a professional or timely manner. The latest instalment of their reign of terror is going to be to condemn us to a prolonged spell in the third or fourth division, which of course will wipe another significant amount off their 'investment' whilst ensuring less interest from elsewhere in buying it, should they ever decide to sell.

The priority in those days of 2018-2020 was to 'stabilise' i.e. survive in the Championship and avoid risk of a return to League One, blended with a combination of 'rewarding' those senior players who had got us straight back up and 'developing' some academy products into mainstays of the team. I don't believe that promotion really ever came anywhere in the equation. But still, I much, much preferred that group of lads. A good combination of proper established senior players and some really likeable youngsters. I just don't get that feeling now.

Two things with West Brom - on paper they shouldn't be in trouble, and I don't think their ownership will sit back and risk their investment going down the drain and not act. I expect if this new manager of theirs doesn't shape himself quickly he'll be replaced. For some strange reason they seem to be wedded to this obsession with employing young inexperienced head coaches. But that will change if they are at serious risk of League One.

I think back to that squad we had between 2018 and 2020 Raya, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Nyambe, Bennett, Buckley, Conway, Dack, Evans, Reed, Rothwell, Smallwood, Travis, Armstrong, Brereton, Graham I don't know what it is but that was a much more likeable, relatable group than what we have now.

Rumours that Rowett is on the list for the next Leicester manager. Would be a sensible appointment for them to guide them through the next few months especially if they get a points deduction.

I'd suggest that the identity of the players' agent/agency is the more significant issue here than whether the player is the best we can get. Yes lots of options around in the lower leagues. But is their agent friendly with the regime? If not move on.

Predictably both Norwich and Sheffield United make changes, bring in good managers and underperforming players start to haul them out of trouble. So down to the dross now. Us, Pompey, Oxford, Charlton and maybe WBA/Leicester if they continue to sink though I suspect both have enough quality to keep their heads above water.

Agreed, which I think is more or less what they did in 2015 when the penny dropped with the top dogs that this was going to keep on costing the family a ton of cash, so they took a step away and Balaji and his mates sidelined Bowyer and got control of things again. The top dogs then got a grip on it again after relegation - bypassing Pasha and summoning Mowbray to India for face to face talks - and because of Mowbray's skills around the table 'wonderful human beings' routine he tempted them back in - they liked him and his talk so agreed to throw their weight behind him on the basis he'd get us back up and in the mix. But then they lost faith with him after a couple of years of big losses and decided they'd had enough again, probably for good this time. The only other element to this arrangement was Waggott, who had got himself set up here with the top dogs in similar fashion to Mowbray - a seat at the table in Pune and audience with Madame - and by virtue of that was untouchable to some degree - allowed to carry on with his hefty salary and some autonomy, including on recruitment (Eustace) and signings / expenditure. This was a problem for those in control now because he had the ability to act as a counterweight and carried some clout, which they wanted rid of. I'd be intrigued to know how his departure came about and whether he saw the writing on the wall and got out before the real trouble came or whether those in control now finally managed to get those upstairs to get shut of him. I keep on thinking back to Pasha talking about a new CEO and how that would be something he would find out about if/when it happened from India - that's because appointments of that nature have always been reserved to the top dogs and I don't think he's acting on their instructions any more. He'll find out like the rest of us if/when they ever get involved again.

I still think there are two camps in India. One is the Balaji/Suhail camp which is running the show today and has run it in the past. The other is the Madame/husband camp which ran things when Bowyer and Mowbray were in charge. When a manager gets the ability to go to India and meet the top dogs he comes back with power, money and ability to run the club in a semi-professional manner. That's because the top dogs can override/overrule the underlings and sanction spending that allows us to compete. Bowyer got it after his flight to India in 2013, Mowbray got it after his flight to India in 2017, and Waggott got a long tenure as CEO after his flight to India. When the top dogs are disengaged, as they were from 2015-2017 and as they have been now since about 2020-2021, into the void Balaji and his chums are able to play, albeit on a much smaller cost base than when the top dogs are involved. No big wages, no major outlays, player sales are needed to fund it, but between all that just do what you want, we ain't interested. Last time around it led to relegation to the third division but stopped there because they summoned Mowbray out to India and he got his feet under the table and was allowed to run the club like a professional outfit. This time around that won't be happening because it seems the top dogs are well and truly out of the loop.

I think this lot - Pasha and Gestede - are arrogant They have seen what Waggott and Mowbray were doing, and to a lesser degree JDT and Broughton, and think they can do as well if not better than them on a lower budget. I think this arrogance continues today - a refusal to backtrack or make changes despite it leading us into the bottom 3, a refusal to seek a change of manager or change in transfer approach. I think they think that we genuinely are in a 'false position' based on injuries/back luck/statistics and that we will eventually get enough to get us over the line and they'll get a pat on the back from the money people running the show at the other end. As you say - this is playing Russian Roulette with the club and its future. If it works then they get another year on the gravy train, a bonus and they can argue it was worth getting rid of Broughton, Eustace, Waggott and all those players because we've still got Championship income and significantly reduced costs whilst bringing in millions from sales. But if it doesn't - and I don't think it will - we go down and there's another £10 million gap in the finances to plug. I don't think the owners or stooges will have seriously thought about this

Actions speak louder than words and their actions suggest you are entirely correct. If this was the first time they had been down this road you might be able to forgive it and give them the benefit of the doubt - misguided, badly advised, not understanding the nature of the beast of the Championship and the inevitable consequence of radical cost cuts. But they've done it all before, so unless they all have complete amnesia they will remember what happens when you do this. Yet they carry on with it.

Interesting that all of those clubs (Sheff Wed being exceptional case and Leicester too early to judge) have noticeably improved since making changes.

Anyone surprised, confused or under any illusions about this regime and their interest/reactions to league positions and results need only go and research / remind themselves of what happened the last time they relegated us in 2016/17 Appointed a joke of a manager, not just proven to be a flash in the pan/busted flush but also with the added bonus of his only success being in the dugout of our hated rivals. Left him in place until mid-February even though from the word 'go' we were nailed on for the bottom 3 and anyone with any sense could see it was only going to end one way. Lessons learned? I think not

Hull's last six away results Won at Preston Won at Southampton Won at Middlesbrough Drew at Sheffield Wednesday Won at Millwall Won at Stoke Scored 13 in the process I suppose they are due to lose and we can draw hope from them failing to beat Wednesday?

Leicester have sacked Cifuentes, no surprises there Wonder if they will make an approach for Ismael?

Full time 1-1, another week in the bottom 3

It costs money to own and run football clubs. Even if you buy a ready made PL one, like the Venky cretins did, you do so with full 'buyer beware' knowledge that there are 3 relegation slots every year which with some bad luck/decisions could wipe out the value of your investment and end up costing tons of cash. Yet despite all that the buyers keep on coming. Indeed in the last 10 years or so English football including the lower leagues and smaller clubs, has become even more popular with foreign groups and interest whereas in the past it was largely limited to local or British businessmen. So it's a myth that there is no interest, and everyone knows they risk losing a lot of money. I find it hard to comprehend why anyone would have concerns about the motives or intentions of potential new owners given the current gangs' background. Never coming to games Never communicating Wrecked the club On track for another visit to League One Potentially involved in criminal or at least highly unethical conduct in India resulting in a freeze/restrictions on their ability to fund the club Agents running the show And yet you'd be worried about the motives of a new owner? They'd have some way to go to trump this lot.

Once the window closes the Venky supporters will be out in force pointing to Jorgensen and the 'bids' for the Barnsley lads as evidence of Venkys' amazing support for the club. Of course in reality whatever we've paid for Jorgensen comes out of the money we got from Wrexham for Hyam on deadline day, then there's the next instalment of Adam Wharton's Palace money coming in the next week or so, and we won't be buying the Barnsley lad anyway, so you don't get credit for trying and failing.

Big one today with Portsmouth at home to Southampton in the derby. Back into the bottom three if Portsmouth avoid defeat and they will still have a game in hand either way.

What 'evidence' would satisfy you other than what actually happens elsewhere at similar / inferior clubs? You want private businessmen / consortia to go around giving interviews and talking about it publicly even though it isn't for sale? You want public access to private communications? There's no public 'evidence' of many things but anyone with a grasp on reality knows what is going on. You seem to be expecting or demanding something that never happens in any business transaction in the world - nobody ever goes public about their interest in something when the people in control won't even answer the phone.

https://news.sky.com/story/championship-club-preston-north-end-fc-holds-talks-with-chelsea-suitor-13498336 Example one. I could find another 20-30 from other Championship clubs alone from the last 10 years if you need. I keep hoping that eventually the penny will drop that : a) EVERY Championship club loses money - Rovers are not some random outlier b) EVERY Championship club that goes up for sale eventually gets new owners But it seems you are still sticking to the 'nobody would buy us' routine despite all the available evidence suggesting there are plenty of people out there looking at clubs even less attractive than Rovers, such as Preston Nob End.

His defenders (perhaps to some extent rightly) point to the mayhem inflicted on us by the owners and board and the lack of resources he's had to work with since the summer. Ok then. So what about his dismal record at Watford before coming here, and what about his dismal record last season despite inheriting a side sat in the top 6? The conclusion of course is that he's not very good regardless of what he's got to work with.

Anyone know who the middle man is between the two stooges?

Local media going with the 'decent point' approach. No wonder we are going down if that sort of attitude runs through the place. Another two points gone in a game there for the taking, desperately low on quality and chances, still only two home wins and will soon be February, now 1 win in 14 and some have the audacity to be satisfied with a draw at home. God help us.

Some malicious lies emerging from Preston where it is being reported that a US-Saudi businessman has held talks about investing in Nob End. Apparently nobody has told him or the media that nobody would buy or invest in a 'small town' loss making 'unattractive' Championship football club. You are supposed to just exist with disinterested owners who at least pay the bills and never get taken over Or is it a different rule book because they are a city?