J*B

I was there - got the phone call last night. Not really sure why me specifically, it wasn’t specifically through BRFCS. But I thought it’s better to be there than not, so I went down. Basically what Glen has tweeted was how the meeting went. It was an informal chat with the players then Waggott. There’s no minutes. The general discussion was the players mentioning the atmosphere at home games and specifically the end of the QPR match and during another match (they couldn’t remember which) where they were boo’d off at half time. They said the senior players spent half time keeping the younger players in the rate state of mind and that’s not the best use of time. I made it abundantly clear to all the players that any booing is directly at one of Venkys, Pasha and Waggott or JDT. Szmodics especially said “we’re open to criticism, we were shit against Huddersfield and we know it”. I also explained to the players that unfortunately this club has had ‘ownership issues’ for 14 years now and whilst the last five years have been relatively stable, until the issues with ownership and senior management are addressed it’s only ever a stubbed toe away from discontent amongst the fan base. The players also asked how we could get more fans in the stadium at Ewood. I explained to them the issues with ticket pricing and season ticket pricing — which I described as “abhorrent” — and the horrific deprivation in the local area meaning that fans would love to go but frankly have to pick between eating and heating, meaning there’s little spare money and not enough to be spending on tickets. There was further discussions which everyone in the room agreed to not disclose at this point. I gave my word - as did everyone else - so I’ll honour that.

100% - there’s no point starting the race at the start line if someone can give you enough info to start over halfway to the finish.

I heard Mike Cheston and Ashfaq Hassan have both left. Not sure under what circumstance and for legal reasons I must stress that is not confirmed and doesn’t necessarily mean it’s connected.

This is absolutely key. The only way any protests will be successful is if there’s a small group of people orchestrating them that are all aligned and capable leading it. It’s a full time job that will take over your life. I had to duck out of the WhatsApp group for exactly the reasons you outline.

And an exclusive message from Adam Wharton where he says he hopes one day he gets to play for Rovers again..!

It’s not him that’s gone for it. Two gone today I’m told…

Hospitality for Newcastle now released: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/onerovers/EDP/Hospitality/Index/1448?pbCode=27 I don’t think Steve and Suhail would like protests against their leadership in the corporate seats and lounges.

Well done to WATR on the statement and answering questions from BRFCS members. I really appreciate seeing the answers.

If he’s already in the country and you know funds will land from Palace, it would be advantageous to pick him up from the airport and get the basics underway whilst you wait!

Let’s not forget if we hadn’t have had McGuire in a Sheffield hotel for hours on deadline day, we would have had plenty more time to get the paperwork done. The reason he was there — “Rovers directors told Orlando they didn’t have the funds for the deal”.

This is what I don’t understand. He’s been here for years and by all accounts has done a very good job - until this time last year. It wouldn’t surprise me if budget cuts mean he’s trying to do it all with a typewriter.

Heard the same just now - resignation is Sylvester before he was pushed.

McGuire left Brockhall this morning with his mum in a vehicle from Rovers. Allegedly going to Manchester, but can’t get 100% info on whether it’s for the day, for the night, or in a car full of bags never to come back.

Here’s a starting point for anyone wanting to discuss protest options: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CkZGICKIfnhEAoPh32yV4c It requires you to have WhatsApp installed and will mean other group members can see your phone number whilst a better plan is sorted.

I have a very talented designer that will make what we need as long as the brief for what is needed is very clear.

If an effective protest is happening you need one person to set up a WhatsApp “community” group and one person to coordinate it.

Venkys, in other words. Neither would be here without them.

I don’t think this is the case — firstly, if you go into the club shop they won’t sell you a McGuire 50 shirt, but also the lack of comment smells of an element of truth.

I think local media especially has changed so much over the last 15-20 years. There was a time when the clubs needed them as much as they needed the clubs. I remember SAF used to argue with the MEN every single week, but they could never ban such an important local media outlet. I remember in 2011 the LET bravely lead with a story calling for Kean to be sacked - I don’t think they’d be able to do that nowadays. The reality is now journalists are at the mercy of website clicks, so don’t really have the scope to do long investigative pieces and have the maintain a positive relationship with the club or realistically they’ll lose their job. If a BBC Lancs reporter, as an example, pisses off the club they’ll ultimately lose their job because BBC Lancs can’t rock the boat. That being said I have a lot of respect for all local journalists doing their best whilst working under the restrictions that the job provides.

I’m happy for it to be put down as a misunderstanding that was clarified 🙂

Where does the screenshot say: “is on a paid agreement to toe the Venkys party line” Come on JBiz, I’m happy for you to have an opinion, I’m happy for you to bash my opinion to pieces, but what you’re saying and reality are a way apart here. The quote you’ve put up says the local media reports have reported the Rovers PR. That’s their job, why wouldn’t they do that? If they have a statement or comment from the club they need to use it.

I would still like a response to this, if possible @JBiz. I’m not sure what you’re suggesting, but if it is as above I’m going to need to see some evidence of it. BRFCS has strong relationships with BBC Lancs, LET and Lancs Live, so it’s important there isn’t any confusion. From my points of view there’s a full team of people and moderators here striving to do and create the exact opposite of what you’re suggesting is happening. So whilst you’re absolutely welcome to an opinion, as is everyone, you’ll need to back it up.

Yeah we could have. Or he could have done his ACL and never quite been the same player. Or we might not have got 22M. Or we might have gone down and vultures would have circled. I think it stinks to high heaven - especially with the statement saying the club was suitably funded before any of this happened. But I can’t say that and commit to it until I’ve seen what happens. If we spend 15M in summer on three quality players that make a positive impact then it’s probably the right decision.

Was there? I hadn’t seen that reported, can you link it? My understanding was that Ayala, Dack, Brereton etc where all let go because JDT and GB thought the funds could be better used elsewhere. We signed three players - Ennis, Sigurdsson and Tronstad, then “the project changed”.

I haven’t read the comments from the players but it isn’t a good look to have them sat at the front without their new manager alongside them. If they where doing that the media officer should start the press conference by saying JDT won’t be speaking on anything further than introducing his new players, so don’t ask questions about anything but that.