JHRover

Which 'footballing experts' would they be then? Remember - just because you have lots of followers on Twitter doesn't mean you are qualified or an expert. As I say - the Club has earned the distrust and suspicion. They can prove me wrong. Although the purchase of land referred to above might appear to be ideal there remain substantial obstacles - like access, flooding and most importantly where/how we are going to be able to erect large buildings and floodlights required given the very strict planning regulations in that part of the world.

The last time there was news to be given out they didn't do anything. It was down to a Rovers fan spotting an application on the Ribble Valley planning portal. Why would this time be different?

We already have an academy that functions very well and in terms of players making the grade in the first team are surely unrivalled in the top 2 divisions. If it ain't broke don't fix it might be something worth thinking about. I mean realistically how much better and more prolific can our academy get? Is the aim to have our entire squad made up of academy players? A romantic thought maybe but completely unrealistic. Where Venkys and their associates are concerned I think it is wise to take the concern/suspicion route first and foremost and be pleasantly surprised if they prove us wrong, rather than the opposite which is to tell all and sundry how wonderful things are going to be and then fast forward we've lost our brilliant Brockhall facilities and have ended up with a joke facility elsewhere and lose our Category 1 status. What I do know is that last set of plans - which emerged via the back door after the Club had sought to keep them quiet - consisted of slashing our size by over 50% and trying to condense everything we currently have on two sites onto one site that was wholly inadequate for the requirements of a modern day facility, Category 1 status and getting remotely close to sustaining what we already have. I find it implausible that in the space of a few months there has been a complete U turn from attempting to condense everything onto one site that was inadequate for our needs and clearly just an attempt to grab the money from the housing development on the top site to all of a sudden now supposedly investing millions in a massive site. My prediction is that they will have an option of some land perhaps off the A59 at BAE Salmesbury which will sit between some office blocks. We are now at what, 7 years since any of the owners bothered even to attend a match, can't afford to replace the pitch at Ewood and the ground is covered in grime yet I am really supposed to believe that they are now eager to improve on what we already have at Brockhall with a new facility? Sorry, I'm not buying it. As with everything else they can prove me wrong - get it built - show us the plans of what they are trying to do. It should be clear quite quickly that it is an upgrade on Brockhall. Bigger, combined, newer facilities, all singing all dancing. Keep it shrouded in mystery and uncertainty and I'll stick to my suspicion first approach.

Venkys have invested nothing in improving facilities beyond the essential requirements of maintaining what we have and the requirements to comply with Category 1 academy status. So if I'm supposed to believe that they are now taking such an interest to develop a BETTER training/academy facility than the one we already have - well I won't be doing. If there's any truth in it I suspect it will be another downscale and corner cutting job motivated purely by the attraction of throwing up houses on Brockhall and the cash that comes with it. And you don't sell your best player in January when in with a shot at promotion. Even if that means losing him for less in the summer (which we probably won't because the summer is a better time to sell) it is still worth it to have as good a shot as possible at promotion. We've always been told Venkys will back a promotion push if we are doing well. Yet mere months on from selling Armstrong and not reinvesting any of it now all the talk is about selling the next star man. All this talk perplexing when the focus should be on adding options to this squad in January to take us to where we want to be. A very weird way of doing things to focus on who gets sold in January when really there should be no such talk in our position. Clubs serious about promotion wouldn't entertain it. As for Venkys I'd be surprised if they have a clue where we are in the table.

Why aim for a big crowd and deal with the hassle? Makes more sense to this lot to keep numbers low but make as much as possible from them. Might make sense on their monthly targets and ensuring an easy life but long term dangerous for this football club. But hey we got low gates in the 80s so its all part of the circle of life.

Oh dear. We can't spend money - the theory goes that our owners can and will invest but are being prevented from doing so. A quick look at our transfer dealings over the last 18 months tells us all we need to know on that front. Can't get a new pitch - thanks for confirming just that - we didn't get one! Waggott got carried away in January when it was a mess telling everyone what he was going to do about it and then we just got the renovation. Now you reckon a new one is coming next summer? You believe that? We can't sell more tickets and that is why gates have collapsed. Aside from the derby match v Preston and the special offer of Sheff United gates have been appalling at Ewood and I'm not comparing to the PL days I'm comparing to the heady heights of 2014 under Gary Bowyer in the Championship. Astonishing that anyone would see the issue on ticket sales as being 'fans who won't buy them for all sorts of reasons'. About time the club took responsibility for those reasons. Like any other business the customers vote with their feet. A failing business loses customers by the bucketload. A business that recognises why can turn it around. A business that keeps repeating the same mistakes and thinks it is doing all it can and blames customers for not coming will fail. Can't cope with FFP rules - we had to sell our training ground all of a sudden in a desperate last minute attempt to avoid sanctions (or so the story goes). That tells me we can't cope with it. Fully compliant thanks to flogging the crown jewels to a different company.

I went on the Ipswich forum at lunchtime to see what they had to say about this. I have to say I find it fascinating the difference of opinion and how highly they regard him. To me I wouldn't be bothered if he went although to be honest it would sum up what a shambles this club is if it were to happen at this juncture. Yet the Ipswich lot seem almost giddy with excitement. Salivating at the mere prospect of it. Bizarre really. I know he was popular there as a player yet his managerial career hardly sets pulses racing. We are on a good run and doing well but take away the last month or so and we have been much of a muchness in the Championship for the last 3 years. A popular name in the betting there is Neil Harris who got Millwall out of League One, kept them in the Championship and did an Ok job at Cardiff yet they are lukewarm as to his credentials yet Mowbray who got us out of League One (with a lot better squad), kept us in the Championship is seen as an incredible appointment.

Which way does it work then? Why is Burnley seen as a better venue than Rovers for such relatively prestigious fixtures? I would suspect that part of it is down to having friends in high places at the FA - for example Southgate's Middlesbrough connections ensuring the Riverside hosted 2 senior friendlies recently - but there will also be an element of proactivity about it - putting the name out there and embracing the prospect of doing it. I'm sure you'll explain to me a collection of reasons why we can't do it. Can't Do FC are good at finding reasons why things can't happen instead of just getting on with it. Can't spend money Can't get a new pitch Can't sell more tickets Can't get better crowds Can't make new signings Can't cope with FFP rules Can't, Can't Can't.

In reverse order this time. If it wasn't cost effective then nobody would host U23 games. There are loads of places a hotel could be built but my original point was in relation to a new Riverside stand and the suggestion we don't need the additional facilities that could provide - a hotel is one example of ways of using such space without needing to increase capacity of the stadium. Are Man Utd and Liverpool club shops unable to stock adult shirts at the moment? I only ask because they also import their stock from the far east so not sure how they have coped with supply issues. And finally no I won't just accept what people on here say. If i believed everything I read on the internet the world would be very different for me. I tend to rely more on my own interpretation and understanding of things, along with joining the dots and past experience. Very easy to be made a fool of if you just accept what people tell you without question. This is how people like Waggott operate with fans hanging off his every word without question.

Key words - competent and director. Pretty sure the new guy isn't a director. He might be 'Head of Commercial' or whatever but he isn't a club director. I'm not sure how competent he is, suppose only time will tell but I've noticed no change since he came in. "People clearly know people close to the players" - fine - who are these people? Yes a hotel in Blackburn would be needed. I understand the ones already there are regularly sold out and that is why recently they have built new ones including the Hilton at Whitebirk. We could have had a slice of that action but did nothing. Yes there is office space in the Darwen End. So make some more. I don't know nor care what sales figures on kits are or how many were ordered. Fact of the matter is that they are now sold out less than half way through the season with seemingly little chance of any new stock for the foreseeable. Last to get them released and on sale and then sold out in November suggests to me there is a problem somewhere along the line. I have no idea how much Burnley made. Does it matter? Suffice to say they weren't doing it for free and will have taken something home for their ground being used. I thought we were desperate for money? So hosting England U23s would generate some. Presumably another one to add to the list of things we can't do at Can't Do FC.

Another suggestion of ways of increasing revenues poo-pooed. Can't do this, won't do that. For a club supposedly hamstrung by FFP restrictions I would expect more efforts to maximise revenues yet as you say - a large hospitality area in the Darwen End stood empty every week. It could be used. Just like there are many, many, many other ways the club could grow income to held deal with FFP issues. A few suggestions: - Appoint a competent commercial director. We had one with Dave Biggar who delivered the lucrative Dafabet deal and then he wasn't replaced when he left - Maximise the use of our good facilities - open the Darwen End up for use on matchdays. I went to Charlton last time we played there and the lounge behind their home end - similar to Darwen End - absolutely packed with fans drinking reasonably priced beer (In London yet cheaper than it is for a beer at Rovers) - Develop new facilities and new ways to bring in income. Not necessarily hospitality space but also conferencing rooms, office space, gym, hotel, etc. etc. etc. - The Club shop is now out of most adult sizes of replica shirts 2 weeks before Xmas with 6 months of the season left to run. I don't accept Covid excuses (go to any other Championship club and they will have stock) and I don't accept this is down to unprecedented demand. It is down to the club hedging its bets and only ordering small quantities of kit. More money missed out on. - As I mentioned yesterday we could host England U23 fixtures and get good crowds on watching. Instead they go to Burnley which is an inferior stadium in a less advantageous location. None of these things are done because they require planning and investment. Much easier to do nothing, let the stadium deteriorate, wail and whinge about no money and FFP and limited income. Do something about it then.

Agents and 'other sources' - who? Can you name anyone who has this information and has shared it publicly? It all comes back to Waggott and Mowbray. Everything that has appeared in the press is either presumption or based on what Mowbray or Waggott have said. If you can point me in the direction of when and where an agent, player or reliable source (not the Ewood cleaners) have confirmed that improved contracts are on the table for these players then I'll be happy to hold my hands up. Until then I wouldn't trust Waggott as far as I could throw him and certainly won't be accepting what he has to say as the gospel truth.

The rules don't come into place for 7 days so shouldn't be in use at Bournemouth. There are enough stewards on the turnstiles checking bags and tickets - surely they can just check passes instead.

Yes I do expect a new Riverside. There's more to a stadium and stand than just numbers through the door. It doesn't need to increase capacity of Ewood, but it could improve everything else about the place. The facility is inadequate for modern day requirements. I think it is one of the worst stands in the top 2 divisions. No disabled facilities, no concourse, no shelter, uncovered seats, restricted view seats. It needs replacing and there's no reason it couldn't be if the owners were serious about improving things here. Speaking of FFP - a new stand with proper facilities would provide additional income streams to help with FFP - office space, retail space, hospitality - whilst also making Ewood Park a better venue to host other events. Turd Moor held England U23s the other week. Why are games being held there when none are held at Ewood? More £££ missed out on. The pitch isn't up to scratch. The groundstaff do their best but we haven't had many games on it recently and it will deteriorate again rapidly. Waggott knows this which is why he was promising a new one but then failed to deliver. The current arrangement is just a patch up job until the next bad spell hits. Again it is all just emblematic of a club that has cut corners for far too long and it comes back to bite.

Well they haven't made any offer to Mowbray or his staff, and seemingly he has zero idea whether he will be offered one or not with only 6 months left to run on his current deal. So I would certainly raise the question as to why everyone is so happy to believe that they have offered players improved terms. Mowbray is one of their friends, they like him and trust him and have met him in person on several occasions at their house in India. They haven't met the players because they can't be bothered coming to the UK to visit the club. So if they can treat Mowbray in that way - leaving him to wonder what his future holds and not make any progress on a new deal - then surely they can and will do the same for players they have never met? Seems odd to assume that they would be willing and able to chuck substantial money at player contract extensions whilst staying silent on Mowbray? I agree it is all quite pointless discussing really because the only thing that actually matters is whether the players sign or not. Maybe we have made them offers but they are crap so players would sooner become free agents and try their luck elsewhere. I think that is unlikely to be the case because I don't see many Championship clubs outside the current top 3 that have the means at their disposal to offer these players substantially more. If they do then I would of course come back and question where the hell Venkys' £20 million a year is going if mediocre Championship clubs are in a position to entice our players away. It is pointless - just like Waggott doesn't get credit for talking about a new Riverside, or telling his chums at Sky Sports that a new Ewood pitch is in the pipeline or that some really good players were sat at Brockhall on deadline day wanting to sign but didn't. End results are what matter. No points or credit for failing.

Thanks for confirming that it is all based on what Waggott and Mowbray have said. That's my whole point. After the shite Waggott has come out with I'm astonished as to the number of people so happy just to believe him. Maybe the new contracts will come after the new pitch, new Riverside and ticket reductions to compensate fans?

Yes I know he's said that. My point was why is the assumption that the owners are organised enough to agree to offer improved contracts to multiple players (at substantial cost to them) but aren't organised enough to make a decision on their manager (who they have met and like several times) and who would cost much less to keep at the club than those players? I think the most likely scenario is that nobody has been offered new deals. Nobody can be because they require approval from the bosses in India for the additional cash they will require. It is interesting that NONE of these players have accepted the 'improved' offers made by the Club. Not one. Almost as though there are no improved offers there to accept...

Oh, I thought it was the training ground sale that was needed to avoid an embargo? Which one is it? Or is it both? We need to sell a £15 million player AND our training ground just to avoid an embargo? I've asked you before - what difference would an embargo have made in the summer? It might have meant that we weren't able to sign Edun (though we probably would have been able to because the League allow spending provided it falls within certain criteria even under an embargo) I've also asked you before - what evidence do you have to support your claim that Rovers have offered new improved contracts apart from Waggott saying so? Do you not accept that Waggott might not be entirely truthful on that front given it is his name next to it when things go wrong? It is interesting. You so willingly and readily accept Waggott's comments in the fans forum as the truth (even though he has lied/exaggerated many times) and believe that the players are holding off signing new deals yet you also seem to accept that Mowbray and the management team haven't been offered new deals yet. Why would the owners sanction offers for the players if they haven't offered the manager new terms? Here's a conspiracy theory for you - maybe, just maybe, Mowbray and the players are all in the same boat - contracts expiring and not a peep from our reclusive owners as to whether they will be getting new terms or not.

Still annoys me more than it should that Bournemouth are ball number 1 due to them putting the 'AFC' before their name rather than after like everyone else. Shouldn't be allowed and they should be further down the list.

On what planet do we sell him in January? I've heard plenty of the usual talk about selling him during January to recoup as much money as possible. You don't do that if you are chasing promotion. Can't happen. Not if the club is serious. In the summer maybe, if we get a good bid for him from a HIGHER division. I find it bizarre - are Fulham, Bournemouth and West Brom talking about selling their best players in January during a promotion push or is that just us? We will see what Venkys are all about in January. Will they back the club to try and be successful or will it be radio silence and a couple of loans if we are lucky? Because if they aren't going to back Mowbray in January in the position we are looking like being in given the outgoings and savings made in the summer then they never will.

Agree. Don't want to play them and certainly don't want to go to their place for numerous reasons including the ridiculous police operation. If we had won the last meeting between the sides I'd be quite happy to never play them again and retain bragging rights indefinitely however given they have had the better of us recently we need to play them sooner rather than later and beat them to reset the clock. I'd just rather wait until they were relegated and Dyche leaves and they have a firesale.

Reading Mowbray's comments in the press I would tend to agree with the theory that he is getting his views out into the public domain, putting a bit of pressure on the owners and trying to avoid any finger of blame in his direction if the owners start playing silly beggars again in January. I find it interesting how the Armstrong sale and substantial windfall is now just history. No mention of that cash or any reinvestment of it. Gone, Done, Dusted, forgotten about, move on. I think Mowbray is expecting similar in the event of any sales - the money will just go and he will have to try and pull some more rabbits out of the loan market hat. Only so long that can go on. Some might say this is fair enough, the owners have spent heavily in the last few years and are entitled to claw some money back. Of course they are. But by the same measure you would expect billionaires who are determined to get back to the PL to sense an opportunity this season and to show the money for some key additions rather than sales. You would also expect them to push the boat out to keep Brereton under long term contract rather than hide behind self-imposed wage structures. It is simple - if the cost of paying him more for the next couple of years is less than the amount it puts on his transfer value then it is worth doing. If a new contract costs the club a few million but adds £10 million to his transfer value it is worth it. My view is that there has been radio silence from the top owners in India - Mr and Mrs Desai - for at least a year now. Because of that Mowbray has been unable to persuade them to release funds or issue new contracts and I think there is plenty of evidence for that in the state of the contracts and recruitment which has been extremely short term and low cost since summer 2020.

Tomorrow night. One of my favourite football events of the year. What are people hoping for? Glamour tie at Ewood and see Waggott in a tailspin trying to accommodate 30,000? Home draw against lower league opposition? I fancy going to a new ground so would love an away tie at any of: Wimbledon, Orient, Swindon, St Albans I've been before but would be great if we could get Kidderminster, Boreham Wood, Salford or Halifax I wouldn't complain with West Ham, Spurs or Brentford away (new grounds) Hope we avoid the monotony of a Derby, Bournemouth, Reading, Stoke, Birmingham. Really anyone but Championship would be a nice change.

Efforts like the above from the club are to be applauded. No complaints from me if they are bringing kids in from various places and trying to get them into it. I think this needs to be scaled up somewhat though. They need to be targeting a bigger area than at present and a bigger target audience. It seems at present it is basically primary school age kids from BWD, which is fine as a start but it needs to increase to secondary school ages and it needs to tap into much wider reaching areas. Still not doing remotely enough in Hyndburn from what I see and hear. 'As far away' as Clitheroe I think sums it up. Clitheroe isn't far away at all, it is our backyard, full of Rovers fans to bring in. Not long ago John Williams was targeting Lancaster as our turf.

Lets just see how it goes. No need for talk about contracts yet unless that is for players who will have substantial value for the club to protect. I'm amazed at how well we are doing and long may it continue. Particularly satisfying for me are the controlled 1-0 wins against tough sides in tough conditions like we have had the last 2 weeks. Of course a large part of that has to be credited to the manager. Irrespective of results he isn't leaving any time soon so lets just enjoy it whilst it lasts. I am sure that at least 2 of the play-off teams this season are going to come from a group including ourselves and other names such as Millwall, Middlesbrough, QPR, Coventry, Luton and Forest. We simply have to be confident of finishing above those sort of sides given the way we have performed and points we have at this stage. I'm not one for considering the play-offs as the Holy Grail and the answer to all our problems. If we were to get in there, which is a long way away, that doesn't mean that we are promoted and doesn't address the issues that we have in the summer with the squad. We will soon be arriving at Mowbray's annual point of collapse so the big test won't be Bournemouth next week but will be Barnsley, Huddersfield at home and Hull away. What an opportunity there.