John

Watched some of Gestede interview. Aside from coming across like a smug, arrogant p***k, he suggests that he’s CEO currently in all but name.

Has there been any indication or confirmation that we will extend a first-team player’s contract again?

Only read some snippets of exchanges between Gestede and fans - Gestede comes across like a smug / ignorant / arrogant **** or is it just me? Totally defensive on any criticism and in an attempt to justify decision making. Not a good look and seems petty.

These quotes real? Won’t go down well!

Everyone left bar Tronstad - assuming there was no interest and that’s why he stayed….? Back in Apri - Rudy Gestede told The Lancashire Telegraph that talks were progressing with some players. Since Yuri Ribeiro has signed a new contract but nothing else is imminent. Tronstad has one year left on his current deal at the end of the season. He is one of three important players in the same boat, as well as Lewis Travis and Callum Brittain.

Yep - classic under this ownership..

Usual caveat from VI at the weekend that “anything can happen”, but he sounded reasonably confident on Hyam staying….

Would feel more comfortable with adding someone a bit more experienced in centre midfield. Particularly if injury concerns / doubts over Baradji.

Cutting the wage bill seems to be the plan but contradicts what Gestede said a few months ago? Sure he will put the record straight soon….. He said some players (with just a year left) would sign extensions - imagine he was more put on the spot as clearly has not been the case. How many first team players have signed a contract extension over the past year or so - just Riberio?

I agree with most of this, but a lot of questions remain. Aside from our transfer business and losing many of our better players, VI will need to buck the trend from his previous positions and significantly improve his win rate %.

We’re bound to look a bit disjointed given the number of changes over the summer. Kargbo – no longer merits a start; he hasn’t played well at all. Central midfield – I’m not sure we have enough quality there based on the current personnel. Formation – I don’t think it works with just Yuki leading the line. We rarely keep the ball in advanced areas due to our lack of height. Overall, we look toothless up front – but that’s nothing new.

Kargbo has been very frustrating so far — there’s generally a lack of cohesion with the ball further up the pitch

Keep the faith?

Goes back to a key / fundamental question - what made or makes Gestede suitable or competent to be running our recruitment and in such a key role? If he left Rovers tomorrow, would other clubs be interested to recruit him in a similar role…?

How low can things go? A quick fire list and apologies for not including everything… VI called for stability earlier in the summer - ie let’s keep most of the better players in the squad together… Three stooges come out defiantly following request not to attend matches - only to be clearly talking crap CEO leaves abruptly and still not replaced Captain not happy and wants to leave VI on repeat in every press conference - like a tape recorder - talking about the “mistakes” of the past and who is going to depart next Complete vacuum of communication from the club as usual Can’t sign anyone on a new contract and anyone half decent wants to leave Chat GPT statement from the owners on the eve of the season stating a “renewed sense of optimism” As always, a total shambles….

Transfer window potentially turning into disastrous with the Travis departure - what happened to VI’s comments (only a few weeks ago) on keeping the squad together / continuity!?

VI suggesting post match that Travis is likely to leave…….we are unable to keep any of our better players - surprisingly contradicts the owners “defiant” message season eve on our ‘determination to strengthen on the pitch and build on last season’…..

I can’t comment too much on the new signings, as I don’t know enough about them. Batth and Brittain have been two of our better players, though — we can’t keep losing key players without replacing them adequately. There are still clear question marks over Travis as well, and it doesn’t look like we’re close to a positive resolution there either. All we can do now is hope the new signings are as good as those who have left.

One down, two to go - turning out as predicted.

We seem incapable of keeping our better players, even if it’s to teams in the Championship? On the assumption Brittain / Travis leave. Confirms our “ambition” and clearly our financial challenges are maybe worse than being reported.

Turning out to be the longest saga(s) ever? (these contract “negotiations”). Or is it an (unlikely) case of no news is….. Contradicts Gestede’s comments a few months ago when he suggested we were close to announcing some extensions - same old story.

Disappointing to lose Batth - we always looked solid with him in the team (backed up by the defensive stats). Decent championship experience too which is very important. Money must be extremely tight on wages, hence the on-going contract discussions; it will be interesting to see if we can actually keep any of our better players.

So, not surprisingly, there has been complete silence since Waggott’s departure. There’s been nothing at all - not even rumours - about a replacement. I can’t think of many clubs where there’s such a complete communication vacuum, especially after the CEO leaves.

Lose track of all the nonsense that goes on these days at Rovers - as others have said (and was speculated recently) then Gestede for CEO could be a possibility - anything which doesn’t make sense and lacks ambition usually fits the criteria.

An owner communicating in public with their fans - https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2025/05/from-the-top-a-message-from-david-clowes-may-2025