You may not have noticed but first class facilities and a stadium fit for top flight football didn't prevent Wolves, Norwich, Leicester, Sheffield United, Southampton, Leeds and plenty more all falling into the Third Division. If following a Third Division club is beneath you there is always Burnley if you want Premier League football. We aren't the only club to fall on hard times. That's football.

Last time we were in the Third Division we were at the bottom at Christmas - stuck with the manager and ended up being promoted that season. Good job we didn't have you making decisions when Howard Kendall was here.

We've signed some excellent older players over the years who have given brilliant service to the club. Guys like Big Mac and Waggy became cult figures at the club and offered a tremendous amount on the pitch. This lad has always looked impressive whenever he's played against us. A very positive signing for me and the type of experience we will need in League One.

Totally agree that being in League 1 with cat 1 status was not what the Premier League envisaged when this was drawn up. The problem is that there are not enough Premier League clubs who meet the cat 1 requirements. However, with the likes of Burnley improving their youth setup, it may well be that at some point in the not too distant future Burnley take our place at that level. It would be more difficult to do in the Championship due to the number of Championship clubs with cat 1 status. Ultimately, I think that raising the bar, in terms of what is required to meet the cat 1 status with regard to facilities is what will ultimately see our downfall from this level.

Look at the line-ups over the past five or six years of Premier League clubs who have faced Rovers at Under-18 level and then look at how many of those players have graduated to the first team at their respective clubs. Premier League clubs rarely promote from within. A player has to be exceptional. Coming to Ewood offers the chance to make it through to senior level and earn a move to a bigger club. We only have to look at the number of lads we have picked up from Premier League clubs and who have switched to our Academy in the hope of improving their chances to make a career within the game. You only need look at how Crewe have operated over many years and the number of top class players that have developed at that club. Being in the Fourth/Third Divisions didn't prove a handicap to recruitment.

The past two seasons have shown that we can compete on the field with any of those in the Premiership at this level. The problem we face is that every three years, when the inspection takes place to renew category status, the bar is raised in terms of facilities. A number of Premier League clubs have moved in recent years to larger complexes which has enabled them to improve the facilities. Because we developed our facilities in the 1990's, we face a struggle to develop in the same way due to planning restrictions. In many ways, not being a Premier League club provides lads with an incentive as there is a path to first team football. The likes of Lenihan, Nyambe, Wharton, Raya, Tomlinson, Travis and Mahoney have all been around the first team this season which wouldn't have happened at Premier League level. There is a lot of excellent work going on at the Academy and it remains one aspect of the club which continues thrive despite the ownership. However, future success will depend on the level of financial cut-backs to the Academy.

To be honest I can't say I've been impressed with many of our attacking players for some time now. I think I'd go back to the likes of Bell, Walters, Foster, Richards and Beattie to remember any youngsters who actually looked a cut above the rest. I think Butterworth may have a bit about him - reminds me a little of a young Simon Garner in terms of style but it's very early days to make a judgement on him.

I've watched Mahoney for a few years now in the Under-21/Under-23 and he is exactly the same as Treacy and Peter - a lad with potential who may or may not make it. As for the bit about attack-minded players - you really do talk some rubbish Stuart. I was brought up on attacking players - Dougie, McEvoy, Pickering, Fergie etc. At the moment I simply haven't seen anything in Mahoney that would warrant the club paying him £8,000 + grand a week in our present situation. If the lad can get that somewhere then good luck to him, as I said, it will give him a good financial platform for the rest of his life and I'm sure most of us would be happy to take it.

Couldn't agree more. The lad has potential in the same way Keith Treacy and Sergio Peter looked to have potential at one stage but both failed to make the most of it. However, if someone is offering silly money for the next three years I can fully understand why he would want to move. Whilst he might not play much football for the next few years it would certainly give him a solid financial platform for the rest of his life.

Can't say I'm overly upset about losing Mahoney. Having watched him for the past few years it seems to me that he is something of a luxury player at the moment. Lacks the work ethic of someone like Bennett, which is the minimum requirement of someone playing in his position. Like others who have left thinking the grass is greener somewhere else he may well find his career reaching a dead end. If he'd stayed he would certainly have had to have toughened up for League One defenders. At the moment he is a lad with potential which may, or may not be realised at some point in the future.

Take no notice of Jal, chaddy. He clearly has a chip on his shoulder with regard to the club. Put him on ignore.

Completely agree. Hopefully, Mowbray will stick around and try to rebuild a team in League One. Won't be easy with the owners not putting in anymore money but, unfortunately, they seem intent on staying without investing so an experienced manager is our best hope of trying to stop the rot at this moment in time.

Poor performance tonight and but for Andy Fisher we would have been out of it by half-time. Fleetwood looked the better side and ultimately deserved to go through to the final.

According to the report he picks up his UK Tour on 3rd June which is before he is due to play at Ewood, so it looks like he will be at Ewood after all.

Another cracking game of football tonight. Both teams played attractive football and provided an excellent night's entertainment. It was a real team effort with a number of excellent individual performances from the likes of Travis and Tomlinson. Hendrie made a rare appearance at left-back and had a very good game. These lads have been a joy to watch this season.

Johnson and Dunn have worked very much as a team over the past eighteen months or so looking after the Under-21/Under-23's. They work exceptionally well together and seem to compliment each other very well.

To be honest pb, I've enjoyed watching the Under-23's this season far more than the first team. There have been some thrashing - away at Villa and Middlesbrough - but in the main the games have provided cracking entertainment. These lads want to play for the club, have improved under the guidance of Johnson and Dunn and play the way those two did at senior level. Tomlinson is surely better than what we have in the first team at the moment in midfield. I thought Ward looked comfortable whilst Stokes looks fitter than he has for months. Put the likes of Mulgrew and Bennett, as older heads, with Raya, Nyambe, Lenihan and these lads and I'm sure they would be more than capable of giving it a go in League One if we go down.

He's progressing well although for most of the season he has been with the Under-18's. However, now that Matty Platt is out on loan he's getting more time with the Under-23's and, apart from tonight, has looked very comfortable at that level. He's quick, good in the air and doesn't hold back in the tackle.

A young team was well beaten tonight up at Hartlepool. Middlesbrough looked very impressive and Mikael Soisalo was simply outstanding. Rovers had a very young side out now that Nyambe, Tomlinson and Mahoney are with the seniors and the likes of Platt, Thomson and Wharton are all out on loan. Add the injured Jack Doyle to the list and this was a very different side to the one that has been so impressive this season. However, it was, nonetheless a very disappointing performance with far too many mistakes being made. The youngsters who'd come up from the Under-18's will have found a huge difference and young Lewis Thompson had a difficult night at left-back. Tyler Magloire wasn't as commanding as usual and Lewis Travis was utilised at centre-back for the first time so it proved to be a makeshift defence and the home side fully exploited it. Middlesbrough looked a quick and powerful outfit and they made the most of their chances. Definitely a night to forget.

Last I heard he was having a trial with Bolton Wanderers.

Apologies for missing you out of the post the other day. Butterworth is not the biggest lad but seems to know where the goal is. Holds the ball up and lays it off well. A fair turn of speed and can finish. Not one that is easily knocked off the ball. Reminds me of a young Simon Garner to be honest. Early days but another lad that seems to have huge potential.

Tomlinson is an energetic tough tackler. Covers the ground, is a ninety minute players and has a terrific shot on him. Butterworth has great potential but has only just moved up to Under-23's. Needs more time to develop at this level. Mols is a dynamic midfield player who gets forward and can create chances. Plays central or can play wide on the right. It's only this season that he has broken into the Under-23's. Fisher has looked a very capable goalkeeper this season and shown plenty of potential. Josh Powell, who impressed in pre-season, has now joined the ranks so we are well served in this department. Joe had a little dip in form whilst there was uncertainty about his contract but now that has been signed he has shown a return to form. Another who will be knocking on the senior squad door next season. Mansell has scored goals and is a hard working lad but it's difficult to know if he will make the grade as so few strikers seem to make it.

To be fair both have looked very good. Travis can play right-back or midfield whilst Doyle, although tried in left-sided midfield roles, is a far better left-back. Travis has, deservedly been in and around the first team this season whilst Doyle is not too far away and certainly a far better bet than Hendrie was ever likely to be. At the moment I would think Williams probably still has the edge over him. There is a pool of very good young players at the club in Raya, Nyambe, Travis, Platt, Wharton, Doyle, Mols, Tomlinson, Hardcastle and Mahoney. There are also a number of younger ones who are beginning to make an impression at Under-18 level.

I don't know why you bother chaddy. Jal is a WUM and nothing more. I no longer get involved in any of his discussions. Makes this board far more enjoyable when you ignore certain posters that you believe are simply WUM.