Yeh, especially with how many players we need and how little money we are likely to have to play with. But we really can't just keep loaning Prem players, they're not even cheap usually and we need to build our own assets. We really should have relied on this less in previous years of the FFP cycle.

It won't free up a lot in wages either. Here is some pure guesswork of course... Rothwell - 7k Nyambe - 7k Lenihan - 12k Van Hecke - 10k wage contribution Khadra - 10k wage contribution I think a couple of those are high estimates tbh. But that comes to 46k p/w, or just over 2.25 million in savings. Probably enough to buy one starter for about 1.5 mill and pay their wages. Or maybe squeeze two cheaper gambles in instead.

Then I find it hard to believe we couldn't have come up with a satisfactory offer last summer, before the managerial situation was looking like it mattered. Instead we got Waggott penny pinching and lost quality players.

Yep, more false economy from the master of it, Waggott. The same man who thinks hiking prices for a working class town struggling to get enough people through the gates, during a cost of living crisis, will actually bring in more money this season let alone in the longer term as our fanbase erodes further. Even after fucking up with the same policy during the covid crisis. Also thinks it's worth letting probably about 10 million quid of talent walk out the door for nowt because he couldn't add a bit more dosh to each contract offer to rigorously preserve his precious pay structure (which is clearly flawed as 3 key players all preferred to hold out for better from elsewhere once in their last year, and at least 2 are off).

It's not hard to work out the probability. Last summer we received about 10 million for Arma after the Newcastle cut. We spent almost nowt. The season before that we spent almost nowt too. We still had to sell our training ground for what, about 15 million just to avoid the sanctions, a trick we can't repeat. If you think we will now be in a position to spend some 5 mill or so on a CB, PLUS rebuild the rest of the squad, replacing Rothwell, all the loanees, probably Nyambe, before we sell BBD, and not violate FFP at the next assessment without sales, I'm very confident you're wrong. Paying Lenihan a few k more, retaining an asset worth at least 2 million, and/or hiring a good manager in an appropriate time frame however, would have been much more financially viable.

Are Boro really paying that much more in wages than us? On a CB? We paid Ayala more than they were willing to. They don't have parachute money anymore, I can't think they have that much more income, and they probably already have a larger wage liability than us. The LT is certainly suggesting it's a factor, for what that's worth these days of course.

How much do we think the delay in appointing a manager has contributed to losing Lenihan?

It would be a statement of intent...to violate FFP and be sanctioned. Couldn't see him going for less than 5 million, which would still leave us with worse CB options than last season now DL is gone. And we still have half the rest of a squad to rebuild. The new manager isn't even appointed and should have a say in how the budget is distributed. Better to accept the budget is going to be minimal until BBD is sold, rather than kid ourselves it can be high and get upset when it isn't.

Christ almighty. Some serious denial here, or at least inability to judge a CB. Talking about relying on Ayala is sheer delusion though, guy can barely stay fit. We have signed him after he left Boro, they've signed Lenihan after he left us. I know who is getting the better deal there.

However you slice it, if he is, we'll just have to roll with it. Heard he's a bit flaky though.

The mould at the back of the toilet I always forget to clean can probably make that claim too.

Within 12 minutes you have ignored your own advice and got fixated on an interview's soundbites. Warne didn't dismiss the link, and even if he had, it's just an interview and some soundbites for the Rotherham fans.

I'm also wary of the 'journey' because we've heard it for so long. But from someone who could actually deliver, I don't mind a 3-year wait for promotion. It's whether he and the new manager can deliver that or not that's the big question, and whether we can remain financially viable for that long (which with the right player trading, we could). Honestly, I think promotion this coming season is a pipe dream almost no matter who we bring in. There is too much work to be done on the squad and staff, too little money, and too much dysfunction at the club. I think 2023/24 is the soonest promotion might become realistic. But you never know I guess. There is usually a team you wouldn't expect to be up there who cracks the top 6 or comes close, a la Barnsley and Luton.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/20196427.rotherham-united-boss-paul-warne-addresses-blackburn-rovers-speculation/ The LT painting this as Warne 'pouring cold water' on the speculation, but when you actually read the comments they're exactly the sort of non-commital comments you normally get from an in-work manager. Doesn't actually quote him anywhere as saying it isn't happening or he wouldn't be interested. Although one quote does make me think he hasn't been approached, unless he is being disingenuous: “It is nice to think we are included in people's conversations, but I presume that's all it is.”

Is he wrong?

True. How are you with chickens, Chaddy?

Maybe it's the fans he got utterly pissed with in bars that like him.

No worries, it was just a joke Chaddy, I couldn't help myself. I wasn't really doubting your football CV 😉

But then that leads us to ask who is kjtell Knutsen? Since we were talking about Kjetil Knutsen. And who is Kjetill Flatnose?

You're very confident Chaddy. I didn't think you had much of a CV in the footballing world.

So basically yes, aside from Farke you've gone with whoever you thought the club might appoint.

He does, he was fired by Asane. He also seemingly didn't last long at a club called Fyllingsdallen, though I can't find why. He is also 7 years older than Deila and has only just come to prominence.

I could be wrong but I think the Scandi leagues are now very difficult to get players from with the points system. Probably talking pretty well known players from the top sides there, and/or internationals. The bargain bin there will be harder to utilise than years gone by, when I agree it was under-utilised.

The 6-1 dismantling of Roma aside, I'm not seeing much about that which is more impressive than Deila's record in Norway. He also took a relegation threatened side and made them champions. Albeit Knutsen did it a bit faster and won it the season after, whereas Deila finished 2nd the next year before leaving. Stromsgodset have a bigger stadium than Glint, but still much smaller than the big boys over there. Knutsen's achievement does seem a bit bigger, as he did it faster, followed up on it a bit better the next season, and with a slightly smaller club, but there's not orders of magnitude difference in it as far as I can see, mostly it's just more recent. Deila went on to two more clubs in two different countries and won titles and cups there too (albeit not that hard in Celtic's case), showing he probably isn't a one hit wonder. I'm mentioning all of this because there seems to be much excitement at the thought of Knutsen but Deila got a mixed response. I'm probably missing something though.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/20194519.blackburn-rovers-announce-gregg-broughton-new-director-football/ Not someone that was mentioned I believe.