JHRover

Unfortunately they seem to have abandoned efforts at getting the most knowledgeable or informative pundits on and instead pursue those who are 'funny' or tick certain boxes. The product inevitably deteriorates as a result and then this leads to more and more changes, most of them for the worse. It isn't just football, its the same with Sky's cricket coverage.

Looks like Waggott's running a bit short and needs a 'top up' now that season ticket sales have effectively run their course. Solution? Turn to the good old 1875 Membership scheme, exploit the most dedicated of supporters for some more cash because paying top end season ticket prices just isn't enough. Make them pay to get priority on away tickets. Whilst trying to extract more cash from the regulars I'd love to know what efforts - serious efforts - he has made to get new people into buying season tickets. Running a bus for primary school kids doesn't count as they won't be buying tickets. Of course zero mention of such a scheme when selling and advertising season tickets. I'd say it's pretty unreasonable to sell season tickets with no mention of running a membership scheme and then subsequently dilute the benefit of having such a season ticket by establishing a scheme where people can pay for priority over season ticket holders.

Last season it was announced on 12th July, shortly before the start of the season and after months of season ticket sales. Clearly a desperate late bid to boost his numbers knowing the anticipation for the dingle game and possibly Blackpool / Luton too. It was done after promotion in 2018-19, presumably to 'cash in' on the feelgood factor of promotion. Can't remember whether it was in place other seasons.

Yesterday

Indeed but it is his tried and tested go-to option to raise a quick few quid through little effort, so even without the Burnley game to screw people over he can still try with some "added benefits" such as club cash, priority sales and special events. Of course not worth it to most but still worth a try. Nothing screams short term and making it up as you go along more than an annual alternation between running a membership scheme and not running one dependent on the fixtures.

Probably depends on how close Waggott is to his target and bonus. If he's already there or likely to be then he won't bother with the hassle of it. If he's falling short of his target then it wouldn't surprise me to see it introduced on the eve of the season in a cynical attempt to rake in a few more quid.

I like the 'Rovers FC' effect and the alternation of colours with the Totally Wicked logo to at least try to harmonise it with the shirt but not sure at all on that collar.

Game at Barnsley on 22nd July now moved to behind closed doors

Me too. Might take him some time to settle in as it did at Norwich but he'll have them up there.

The lengths and depths that some people will go to in a desperate bid to avoid attaching any sort of blame or responsibility on the Club or anyone working at it is embarrassing. They'll massage the numbers and try to rewrite history rather than just face the uncomfortable truth.

I've booked Wednesday to Monday through Munich and hire car.

Agree although I've used Skyscanner many times and never had any problems. I've also found it considerably cheaper to book through agents through there than direct with airlines, albeit you don't get the same flexibility and options as you would through the airline.

I'd sooner criticise the club after forming a view based on the evidence I see and hear from various sources - including from third parties and other clubs - than meekly swallow every word club employees feed you without question and accept it as the gospel truth. People like Waggott are literally paid to feed a line to the paying fans - that line being that everything is rosy in the Venky garden, that everyone is working together, that they're all doing a good job, that there is nothing at all wrong. You want to believe that line then it is clear Waggott has done his job on you. I'd like to think I've got a bit more about me than to fall for such spin. We will see if they actually do go on sale next week 'just in time for summer holidays'. As I say, you've vociferously defended the Club on the kit issue for years, adamant that the Club has been utterly powerless in this and merely a victim of global supply and manufacturing issues. Once again nothing to do with us, not our fault. I don't accept that excuse. Just like I don't accept that running out of kits in October every year is good enough for a Championship football club supposedly desperate for cash. And I'll keep on saying it and saying it until it changes and for as long as the club takes my season ticket money claiming to be hard up and struggling.

You've been banging the drum for the last 2 years that our lateness in releasing new kits and issues in stocking the shop with them are out of our control and a result of covid / global supply chains. I've just commented that a much smaller club a few miles up the road has beat us to it by several weeks with the same manufacturer despite only going with them this summer. This of course shows that your claim was at least partly incorrect - that there are ways of getting them out more quickly and other clubs show this - so I can understand your frustration at being proven wrong again and resorting to personal comments.

And a quick Skyscanner search will tell you that despite having an employer willing to grant you holidays at such short notice that you are limited on flight options to get to Austria and prices are now upwards of £200. Some more notice even of a couple more weeks would have seen prices substantially lower and more options open.

Amazing. Those supply chain issues that have plagued Rovers for the last 3-4 years must end at Whitebirk.

Ah the good old 'i won't be going so who cares' routine. Just the same as 'I can afford it so who cares if season tickets are too expensive or I enjoy the atmosphere at Ewood so who cares if others don't. Newsflash - some people will be going and yes to some it is a pain in the arse to arrange time off, flights, hotels at 2 weeks' notice when the club previously promised to not leave it to the last minute.

How many foreign trips following Rovers have you been on and how many have you tried arranging at 2 weeks notice?

Basically we've delayed and delayed as long as we possibly can without announcing anything, the cat is out of the bag because someone at the Austrian end has released it on that app, so yeah lets announce something. They did the same with Marbella in December, refused to announce anything and then the week before they were forced to after people already knew about it.

Now that a third party app has us down as playing and fans have found out about it via Twitter expect some desperate and embarrassing attempt by Rovers to confirm it after the event. Joke club.

What does Waggott actually do? He's managed to seemingly absolve himself of any responsibility or culpability for any element of the footballing operation. He's the boss, isn't he? Rovers will know where they are training that week, which will have been booked for weeks now if not months. This isn't something that can be arranged overnight or at a weeks notice. All they needed to do was tell fans where they were training and when and that they intend on playing at least one game whilst there. That would have been enough for me and others to book some flights and sort travel out. You take a risk, games may move or fall through, so be it, at least you know what they are doing. Claiming to be keeping fans in mind in May, promising to be quicker about releasing information and then being here in late June with nothing is poor. Interesting how it seems to happen each and every year whilst others just get on with it.

They just don't want fans there. No money to be made so Waggott not interested, in fact he's probably annoyed that we're incurring the expense and he'd rather we went to Skegness or somewhere. Beneath him nobody interested or bothered. Imagine they'll be quite happy if no fans there Unfortunately for them you can't pick and choose or turn support on and off at your convenience. Other clubs recognise this which is why they let people know what is happening. They tried it with Marbella in December, only announcing one of the games about 4 days before the event and claiming one was behind closed doors. This was only announced after Ajax and the Marbella football centre had let it slip. It's poor but completely expected at this Club. The people responsible just don't get what it is and means to follow your team.

Ah right, so let me guess, we've 'done all we can'? Strange that every other club around was able to sell replica kits at Xmas and make money whilst we resorted to churning out some retro gear as the only option people had to buy a blue and white halved shirt. It just isn't good enough for any business especially one pleading poverty.

Why wouldn't I use the overall figure from last season? Presumably you are quite happy with the 8000 rattling around Ewood and the 'efforts' made by the Club to increase it. I'm not

So despite a price 'cut' we are going to struggle to match last seasons sales after spending all season in the top 6. How Waggott or anyone else can be happy or comfortable with that I do not know.