The way you have timelined it would suggest the other “option” they explored was to raise capital by selling the land to themselves Which on the face of it appears to have happened I’m as sceptical as the rest about their intentions but I really am struggling to see how that timeline points to a conspiracy as yet The big worry is why nobody mentioned anything until a fan discovered it, but that’s nowt new

Why would the idea of Waggott and Mowbray trying to convince the owners to sell the training ground for their own personal profit be “beyond conspiracy” If anything it is exactly what opportunists do. They find some naive company with they can influence and directly benefit themselves in the process Given Waggot has form (three training grounds now is it including ours?) I would say dismissing it as “beyond conspiracy” is in actual fact laughable

History tells us that is the case No manager under Venkys has ever been an improvement on what we had before they came

The problem is always who is next I know that topic has been done to death on here and save me the “is that reason to keep him?” bait but truly the thought of going through another appointment is just frightening We could have absolutely anybody land through the doors and the only guarantee is they’ll be no bloody good !

Don’t know what to think about this one but history tells us that is when we perform Let’s get a midfield of Johnson and Travis and try to actually win that central battle. Rothwell the other midfielder to give a bit of drive.

Let’s use the opportunity to get Steve Bruce here Thats a man who will get us out of this league guaranteed

You seem to have taken this quite to heart I actually said the same thing myself. I’m glad our “money tree” came from a local man with genuine love for the Club. But you are telling me that, given our own circumstances, if the Saudi investment fund were to declare an interest in Rovers you’d say no? That’s just poor business I wouldn’t say it is whataboutery either, but just more of a prompt to think of the bigger picture. Qatar have been involved in English sport for years now and nobody has batted an eye lid. They have just as much blood on their hands as Saudi Arabia. What’s the difference? I also didn’t defend it. But that’s neither here nor there to be honest. If you think an investment fund originating in Saudi is the end of football I personally think you’ve had your eyes shut these past 10 years. Football has become all about wealth - and the likes of Abramovich at Chelsea have been about for a long time. Adding Newcastle to the mix of elite clubs won’t kill football because football has been that way for far too long now

Foden is a world beater. He's won the U17 World Cup golden boot, 2 Premier Leagues and voted player of the year last season. Pep and his team clearly have absolute faith in him. So do Southgate and co. It's a shame he picked an injury up last tournament. Foden will win win everything there is to win in Club football. It all depends on whether he has the back up / manager in international football. I suspect we will win at least 1 major tournament during his career.

Newcastle fans only want to see success and let’s not pretend we wouldn’t be celebrating if the financial clout of Saudi Arabia bought Rovers, promising years of competing in major honours Qatar are an equally disgusting ‘regime’ who have seen the bribery of international football laid bare, the hundreds of thousands of immigrant deaths in order to build their World Cup dream and let’s not forget being the nation who host the Taliban. Where is the outcry over their ownership of Man City and PSG?

Just brought a left back on to replace a right winger You can’t make it up

You could tell Nyambe wasn’t right in that play. He’d clear that usually I reckon. Unfortunate. Love that boy. Sign him up ffs

Because it isn’t happening It will never happen whilst they are here. Simple as that really. I’d bet my last quid on it. Why have they suddenly realised what it takes to run a club and, if they have, why is it taking so long to sort it?

We’ve had a bit of Bicep discussion before but on the weekend I had the pleasure of catching an Eli Brown closing set at an Elrow event in Brum Didnt get any live videos - but will keep an eye out - but he did play a pretty great mix of Biceps Glue and Nelly Furtados ‘Say it Right’ for all you electronic heads out there

But when you look at Venkys you have to look at their past behaviour as well as finances They have the ability to hire almost any name they can realistically attract to Rovers but so far we have been in the market of cast offs or dodgy pundits. There’s not many who have had a good CV come through the doors in their time. In that case it is hard to think of whatever positive could be happening behind the scenes. Especially when one of the biggest chancers we have seen in Waggott is still sat on his spinning chair. I seriously cannot understand any optimism in Venkys business but hope you are right. It would take some doing though - hiring good folk into and restructuring a club they’ve torn apart. A serious investment and not one I believe they are willing to make.

These “changes” had better be radical because being honest radical change is the only thing that can be viewed as positive We are a skeleton club with a massive chasm in leadership roles. We have 0 scrutiny of our operating procedure and have seen a decade long demise of everything from match day experience to operating staff (ie ticket office and club shop) Nothing at this club is better than it was 12 years ago. Absolutely nothing. So if we are to view any aspect of Venky ownership as positive, and if indeed “change is on its way”, then I have to be honest to share the optimism of 1864 it has to be a change in ownership. There cannot possibly be any other news to be positive about when you consider how everything is done with Venkys.

It would have to be some miraculous changes for them to be considered big leaps forward in my eyes. What do they have planned - a whole new board? New owners? A full review of the business? Will they put some money into the ground? You might have optimism but unfortunately that isn’t a shared optimism. Why would things change so rapidly after a decade of pure negligence?

Butterworth has looked a good player every time he’s played. He’s twice the player Dolan is but just doesn’t run around like a headless chicken. Dolans work rate is fantastic but unfortunately I don’t think he’s got the vision for a top player. I’d much prefer Butterworth against the likes of Luton and play Dolan for the championship teams who think they can play like City, example being Swansea

You cant serious lol Has he genuinely done that? The bloke is such a used car salesman. He’s a hawk, after every last penny he can grab, before he moves on to another place Seriously can’t wait until he buggers off. One in a long list of people having Venkys pants pulled down…. Or do they know?

Bloody hell had to google Van Hecke to know who he was I don’t know owt about him so won’t comment but it’s a bit odd we’ve been in for one Brighton lad, he’s unfit, and we’ve ended with another one. Suppose it’s a case of being in contact and getting in first it’s more legs in the defending department but I hope he doesn’t unseat Carter or Wharton when fit Id rather not develop Brighton’s players when we have decent ones on our books Welcome Van Hecke

Oh ‘Eck

Brexit

It’s very painful reading this thread this summer No slight on the posters, but there’s really been nothing to look forward to

Has to be my favourite song on my favourite album from the Stones

Had a fantastic day at Headingley yesterday. Great day of cricket. A sore head today but will cure it by stewing in front of the tele and watching us knock India about.

They are at fault by not employing the right people Mike Cheston has been a finance director, or similar, and oversaw 2 embargoes. He clearly isn’t much good at his job The Venkys have very deep pockets but for whatever reason they are the only rich club owner not flexing the rules. That might be down to extremely poor commercial advice from the two rather uninspiring blokes they allow to run the club