Dreams of 1995

He's really not the easiest bloke to listen to on the RoversChat podcast

That statement is just pathetic.

Falling for what? The discussion here is that Eustace isn't a bad manager. There's nothing to fall for

Steve Waggott has played a blinder the last 24 hours. I'd be interested to know which supporters trusts declined to attend the interview. They are the ones we should be going to now to push the protests on He's managed to create a new narrative: not one of club incompetence, or of a club hamstrung by tax investigations and distant, careless owners, but instead one which has been ravaged by division, where boos hurt and unity is so very important He has removed his biggest critic. Been seen in public with influential fans and 'senior councils' of playing staff. He has been seen to "act", and then today we know that heads will roll Maybe there is a reason the Venkys pay him so much money after all

As you don't follow Blues you won't be aware of what was going on during his time there JH There were just as chaotic as we were now. And he kept them in this league despite all odds Over a period of time he had managed to develop a squad that was capable of competing in this league with not a lot of backing. He traded well, and was very well liked amongst the Blues' fanbase. He still is

John Eustace is as decent and honest a bloke as I have met He won't be coming in as Steve Waggot's stooge I can promise everybody that

Fucking hell Dom it’s a madness. It’s completely unprofessional from everybody involved What are the Rovers Trust doing? They are supposed to be our professional body holding the club to account. How have they done that tonight? I would have walked out. As soon as the players started talking about how the atmosphere and lack of fans is affecting them I’d have respectfully left. The whole dissatisfaction with the club is shown by the lack of fans in the ground. And the conman who is overseeing it all, who has produced the biggest price rises in a generation, is sat in the room The other day they had a family fun zone where kids kicked a ball into a bin. There were memes comparing the club to Phoenix Nights. It’s a fucking joke. Now I know there was no agenda beforehand I have some sympathy for those who went. Why you didn’t walk out when you realised JDT wasn’t there is beyond me. I couldn’t have done it. A senior council of players, the CEO and the PR man basically telling me boos are hurting their feelings? This is not what our issues are. Our problems lie in the fact we have been a discarded and poorly run club for over a decade. The place is a forgotten cupboard with more than its fair share of skeletons It is an incredible oversight from us as a fan base to have put this out in the way it has been. This whole secrecy thing is the cherry for me. It does not feel right. At the same time I couldn’t give a toss. I think the damage is done. The protests will be stopped in their tracks. Waggot has played his fiddle, and he’s got a tune out of it this time

What is even worse is that I fear the ploy from Waggot Will work. He was feeling the heat. We never had these meetings during Mowbrays bad runs, and my god he had them just as bad as this This whole meeting was based around trying to be seen as though it is the atmosphere and the booing that is at fault. It has been made to look in public as though any protests will seriously affect the team It is called “heading them off at the pass”. Without a concerted effort to remind the fan base who the protests are about and that actually chanting “Venkys Out” will not stop Hyam from being ran past we could see serious damage to the protest movement

I can’t actually believe what has happened tonight The Club has reached a new low in my opinion. Which is some statement to make, given what we have seen over the years The fans who attended have to make a joint statement as soon as possible. It has to be made common knowledge that the protests must continue. They have been used, whether they like to admit it or not. That devious bastard has tried to sell influential Rovers fans down the swanny. Not releasing an agenda first is the proof of this Now the rhetoric is that protesting will harm our performances. It’s nonsense. I can’t believe these people did not walk out of the meeting. What is worse, they then swore into secrecy, as though they have a godforsaken right to attend on the fans behalf and speak for the fans This will damage the club and the fan base. The wind is taken from the sails of protesting fans. They now have, on record, in front of supporters groups, talk of how their actions are impacting the team on match day A stroke of genius by that swine. Shame on those who fall for it

Absolutely. Could not have put it better

I can’t believe people thought this was a good idea

I don’t really have much respect for the supporters who went either. Who do they think they are? Why do the players answer to them The players answer to the head coach and sporting director. Sitting them around a table with Glen Mullen…what has he achieved in sports to make Sammie Szmodics justify his performances to him? I don’t mean that in a bad way but talk about punching above your weight Imo, this is an own goal from those supporters trusts. I’m sorry but our issue is not with the players. The chants of Venkys Out show that. This display of disrespect to the sporting professionals at the club takes away from the reality of our frustrations - the Venkys. I can’t say I’m too happy about it all tbh

You couldn’t make it up!!!

If JDT hasn’t walked already he’ll be out of the door now Never in my life have I heard of an instance of a team meeting, regarding the performance of that team, happening without the head coach present…and especially consisting of fans…. as a “safe space” to talk How disrespectful to JDT. He needs to do himself a favour and get out of here. He is too good for this crap

What the fuck lol It’s all a bit amateur isn’t it? Inviting fans in for a chat with supporters. That will be scoffed at in the dressing room, fact I hope it wasn’t as amicable as Glens tweets make out. It is bigger than them. We want the owners gone

Bloody hell arbitro. Do you have confidence in that? That's a pretty damning indictment of where we are at a club I sometimes think if things like this were public knowledge, even the most fervent defender of Venkys would come around

I did notice the BRFC Action Group posted on Facebook the other day. So maybe there are plans in motion already

I think the Newcastle game is a very good one to target If people could make contact with the Newcastle Supporter Group I reckon they would be on side too. They have had their fair share of problems with owners...although not quite on this scale

That statement. Wow. All I really have to say on the matter

Not exactly how I called it but you could see this paperwork “error” coming a mile off The fact we now find out the “board of directors” had cancelled all cash fees, despite the Wharton deal being signed on Wednesday night, shows what was always planned for that Wharton money. To pay the bills It is also rather sus that the paperwork had an error after Broughton did his best to revive the deal. Will he take the blame this time? I reckon not. It’s obvious what has happened here

Uncle Jack's academy still keeping the club alive

This could be a very smart PR campaign idea Rover80 It could be done with all sorts of things: Turnover in 2009 - £50.4m; in 2023 - £16.6m Wage to Turnover 2009 - 90.5%; 2023 - 147% Etc etc. Everything has got worse. Shareholders funds in 2009 - +£28m; shareholders deficit in 2023: -£122m It could produce a series of striking graphics

I think I was firmly in the camp of incompetence over the OBrien fiasco Now it comes to Duncan McGuire...fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me This is a scale of incompetence not seen at a professional football club. Two transfers that are potentially season defining, failing because the people in charge don't have the abilities to see them through. I had a sneaky feeling this was coming, as the press line was that this was "complex". What is complex about a loan with an option to buy? Clubs do it every bloody transfer window!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We manage to secure plenty of signings over the course of the seasons, but the last two big money transfers have all been too complex to see to the end, which has also coincided with a tax fraud investigation back in India So, whilst incompetence is the theme of Venkys ownership, these two particular instances stink that little bit more. Did they drag their feet knowing if they don't at least try, they may lose their head coach and have to pay for a new one? Or is it that once again we have an internal beef between those in charge - Waggot, Suhail and the owners vs Broughton and JDT. I can't rule the last one out. It has happened before. JDT aimed his frustrations at Suhail and Waggot and not at Broughton (much to Rev's and Mercer's dismay) and that to me tells me he know where the blame lies. He's in it every day. He has never, ever had time for Waggott I trust JDT. He has won it all and has no need to lie. I think his comments are smart and allow people listening to have an understanding of the club, whilst also protecting himself from being sacked without recompense, especially after he already offered to go for free. He will now want paying for his sacrifice

If recent events in the country tell you anything, it is that only action which causes significant disruption that will have any impact It's difficult to tell others what to do when you aren't there yourself, but it's my belief that the only way this will get publicity is to first draw serious attention to the games. This can be done by disrupting each game as much as possible: whistles, pitch invasions, throwing balls on the surface etc. Only then will the cameras look at the club, and the pundits / commentators / podcasters will talk about why the fans feel they have to do this Of course we have been here before. The Venkys rode on through that. Over a decade on though, you have to wonder why it is still not working for them You do feel the tide is again turning. They have managed to create this aura of being benevolent owners but that facade is crumbling. The more we have to hold firesales, the more incomings are disrupted and the longer this tax investigation continues the more their position becomes untenable The Action Group should reform and coordinate the disruptive protests whilst the Trust continues with the amicable side of things - club liaison and so fourth. But the bottom line is, there should not be a game that goes on at Ewood that is not disrupted until this lot finally pack up and feck off

You can get bots for about £5000 a month to post consistently good reviews / comments on your business It would stand to reason that a company the size of Venkys will have bots. That they may use them to post on Blackburn Rovers fan pages is news to me. Why would they feel the need to do that?