If he is as bad as you say though, and nobody in the Championship wants him, who is buying him and paying his 15-20k p/w wages? Still has 2 years on his deal. I agree we will need a better striker on the books, but like it or not we are going to be relying on Sam Gallagher to some degree next season, he's going nowhere just yet. Personally I think he can still be a decent to fairly good player at this level if he is managed right and hits form. Two big asks of course.

Aye, might be alright if they're now the gynaecologist. (Kidding, ladies)

I've seen it said on here a couple of times, but not sure it's true. It certainly wasn't, but the rules may have changed. Previously at least, FFP worked on a rolling 3 year basis and only reset when you changed leagues. Although, it's not called FFP anymore, so maybe if we're being literal, yeh FFP won't be a problem. Profit & Sustainability though, as I think it's now called, probably will. Unless someone can correct me?

Well they bought him in the Prem so that doesn't really apply.

I could see Sunderland if they don't win the playoffs. Not sure on their managerial situation mind, but it wouldn't surprise me for them to go for someone who got promoted from that league a few years ago with another team who didn't belong in it. There's also Hull. Most teams in Yorkshire would be closer to home for him than here too. And a lot can change in a year (he might take time out first, especially if nobody is daft enough to want him right now).

Surely, surely, you didn't just describe Man City's women's team as a promotion from Blackburn Rovers men's team!?!?

Personally I don't think he does want to stay here. I think he can tell the worm has turned with the fans, and he's lamenting his commute. I reckon he is just trying to look as good as he can on his way out for any potential next employer, preferably in the North East.

Khadra and Poveda going back too (won't be surprised if we get one of them back though, they haven't smashed this level yet). So another wide attacker or two. Technically we will be two right backs down, but we can probably fudge through by just replacing one, as long as they're good and rarely injured.

One year's wages, not a year and a half. But certainly an odd decision to bring in a head of recruitment for just one year. It's the position where long-term planning and accountability is probably most important...let alone going into a summer where we will lose half a squad. So now we are going to need to replace the head of recruitment and the manager, presumably after the annual late summer summit with Venkys where budgets and plans get decided upon. And after that, we need to replace half a squad, probably with bugger all money and with a few weeks of the window left. Yay for forward planning. Oh apparently the medical department have scarpered too (good that we let that happen during a promotion charge where loads of key players kept getting injured) so also need replacing.

He is definitely going back to Brighton. Our only hope of keeping him was being promoted. I'd be amazed if he shows up in this league at all next season, but if he does it will likely be for one of the relegated teams who can pay generous loan fees for someone who has just shown they've cracked this level.

Doubt he will be gone before the Birmingham match.

And only one for them. That doesn't correlate with what I'm seeing on the pitch. Brereton keeps getting chances but at tightish angles. We need a central chance, ideally for him.

Lol Merseyside apparently.

We are 9th as things stand.

Apart from Brereton, I can't recall one that actually was a dive though. Hedges didn't dive today and he got booked anyway, so clearly not easily solved. Other teams have dived tons against us but aren't getting booked.

Not sure if you know this but they changed the ref apparently. As I predicted to two friends on whatsapp though, we still got a shit one. Dunno about biased (Bournemouth could have had a penalty) but definitely shit.

The most ludicrous booking for a 'dive' I've seen in a very long time. Even if you don't think it was a foul there was definitely enough contact for him to hit the ground.

Anyone get a good look at whether that was offside?

Incredibly soft yellow given to Wharton there.

It's frustrating to wonder where the urgency and commitment we are showing so far has been for the last few months.

Yep! Agree, although in fairness he almost certainly didn't think he was going to be in charge for 5 years. Especially given out managerial turnover before him. He probably thought he was getting a quick 6-18 month gig at best.

Well that result makes this match almost a dead rubber for us. Which ironically might give us a better chance tomorrow than if QPR won...

And you've clearly made up your mind that none of them have, so it's pointless trying to convince you otherwise.

Ahh, like the one here at 30 seconds that got disallowed anyway:

Sorry, but no, you can only speak for yourself and for what other English referees told you. They'd have to be idiots to tell anyone they took a bribe. And that's only in regard to direct approaches from match-fixers, innate bias is a much harder thing to quantify, sometimes even for the person who is biased.