It doesn't end, at least for the foreseeable. Depending what happens with Brittain, Travis, Tronstad etc we might have one more competitive year at this level. After that I imagine we'll go down and have stability in the 3rd tier for a few years, without ever finishing in the top 6, then by the time we're into the 2030's we'll be looking at the bottom end of the 3rd tier or possibly even be in the 4th tier. All while the court case still rumbles on, fanbase dwindles even more, and folk asking "what do they get out of this?".

I'd be very surprised if they offer Brittain a deal that's worth signing. When was the last time we managed to get somebody to sign a new contract who was entering there final year? Just doesn't happen here.

Small will sign for Preston i think. Really good player who i think if played on the right wing would contribute more than Hedges.

I'm pretty confident Batth won't be here next season. Elliot reckons we offered him his new deal around Easter time. Or if he does end up signing, it will be later in the window if he doesn't end up getting any better offers.

Great scenes for Sunderland. Just a shame it's something we will never see again.

Yeah he's got his timeline a bit off there, Waggot came in after Mowbray. Very convenient but they were adamant Mowbray had nothing to do with his appointment, I never did believe it.

It's been 15 years, that just isn't going to happen.

Only a matter of time. Depending what happens with Trav and Tronstad for me, if they stay and go for free next summer then I could see next season being our last being fairly competitive at this level before relegation the year after. If they go this summer and we downgrade the midfield then I think we'll be in all kinds of trouble this coming season.

Be a downgrading summer for sure. Shipping Brittain out for a couple of million and bringing this bloke in for half the fee and cheaper wages would be right up there street.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25187227.blackburn-register-transfer-interest-hull-city-defender/ Cody Drameh, who I believe is a right back. Knew it wouldn't take too long!

Waiting for someone to come along and say he would be better off staying here.

I still think it's a bit fanciful that Suhail will be leaving any time soon. He is well within the firing line now though.

Summer recruitment will be stopped, Nothing will happen with incomings until August I reckon. I've only ever seen Chaddy say it, all the years he has been on here he's never used that word and all of a sudden in the last couple of months he say's it on every other post!

That's part of the plan. Remember the excuses about last summers late recruitment because they "had only just got in the building". This years excuse is right here, having to put all there energy into this instead. Don't be expecting any significant contracts or transfer news any time soon.

That's just not going to happen.

You know things are serious now. Waggott isn't giving that gig up of his own accord. Also another reason to delay any contract/transfer's etc. Not daft these lot.

What does it actually say, for us non subscriber's?

Would usually be about now that the club will feed something to Elliot saying we are "interested in x player" to try and get the fanbase talking about something else.

Which I believe they always will do when it becomes a complete last resort. This lot are never giving any power to anyone else, administrators etc.

I imagine it's around w/c 23rd June.

90% of business done by the time pre season training started was what he wanted. I did laugh a lot when I read that, not a chance. I don't think we'll even get one player through the door by then.

Always maintained next years retention list will be more interesting. Unless any are sold, then Batth, Weimann (if they sign), Hyam, Brittain, Travis, Tronstad and Hedges will be all out of contract this time next year. That's likely over half of our first choice starting 11 this coming season.

Season tickets back on sale this morning with the price hike. Club reckons they have sold over 8k, looking at the seat map it doesn't look anywhere near that. They have killed the Blackburn End, loads of good empty seats that would have been snapped up usually, looks to be around 50% full. Sad times.

I might be wrong, but isn't the one in August a different case to this and still scheduled?

I'm amazed about that really, I thought they would trigger him and Vale just to have bodies around for pre season before shipping them both out again. The retained list seems a bit more ruthless than usual, which I am a fan of. I'm glad we are getting no return on him, pointless at this club. I'm not a huge fan of Hedges, but he's a much better option that Markanday.