J*B

Four weeks after the approach I asked what had happened to be told it needed to be submitted within a couple of days but required support from an established fans group. I reminded the Trust that the bid would require WATR’s meaningful involvement as “fans should inform the design of the project” and be involved “in the design and development of projects prior to application….”. The Trust were desperate for WATR’s support and I wrote a supportive paragraph and arranged for fan groups such as Proud Rovers and others to also support the bid. This was on the basis of: 1. WATR would have a copy of the bid document before submission; 2. The new Fan Engagement officer would be tasked to include working outside of BwD in areas such as Chorley and South Ribble; 3. WATR would be on the appointment panel for the Fan Engagement officer. - We never saw the bid document albeit it was promised on various occasions. - An appointment was made without our knowledge; the individual only stayed 2 weeks as it was not the role the appointee believed it to be. - A new appointment was made and the job title changed without us being consulted or advised; - I cannot see any evidence of any fan engagement work outside of BwD, nor can I see much with BwD. - WATR were duped into supporting the Club. We did so for good reasons but were dropped as soon as the Community Trust got their money. This is how the Club operates. We tried engagement, it was only one way and on the basis the Club benefits. Engagement will not work with the present owners and management (sic) team. All these posts must be remembered in the future - it’s always fans showing the best intentions, but the people operating this football club are only ever playing ball if they are getting the ultimate benefits. If they’re not getting anything out of it, they’re not doing it.

Going to Porto, according to X. One things for sure, Boro will strengthen regardless if they see an opportunity. Our lot won’t. Yet social media fans will keep telling me we’ve net strengthened this season. I simply cannot see it.

No, but BRFCS, a self-funded fan website, does in the Match Centre: https://brfcs.com/football/match/1386555/west-brom-blackburn It'll only show during a game and for 48 hours after full time, though. Should self update with any majors.

Question for anyone that doesn't rate Dolan, or rates him as an average Championship player - if he was on a 3 year deal with, lets say, Norwich, how much do you think it would take to buy him?

Get out, we’d all do the same. He’s a professional footballer in a short career, if he can earn significantly more money at another club I’d push for it too.

I’m not sure what the relevance is, of the games I saw him play he was the best left back we’ve had in years and without doubt a winner.

Letting Batth go is the big one. Beck, although not ours, was a winner. Travis - if he goes - will be a monumental loss. Tronstad almost as big. Brittain the same. Dolan although frustrating is very experienced at this level.

I’ll say it again for those that insist this is a good window. The Championship is a unique league, you need experience, winners and nouse. We are releasing and selling players with all of the above and gambling we can replace them with cheap alternatives from foreign leagues. It’s an extremely risky decision in my opinion and I won’t be surprised when we’re in big trouble.

Well at least we can rule that one out, then.

Selling good players for profit and reinvesting in replacement good players. Interesting approach from Norwich.

Extremely inexperienced with just one full season under his belt in which he played for the worst club in Belgium and had an average season. I suspect there’s traction in this one.

Narrator: But that wasn’t quite how it played out.

They generate money and reinvest it. We generate money and it disappears.

He’s saying exactly what he’s been told to say by Pasha and if he doesn’t he won’t have a job. Just like the rest of them.

Ambitious clubs invest.

This reads like a dig at your own fans, so for absolute clarity let’s not forget the years of terrible ownership Charlton fans suffered resulting in major protests and a Not A Penny More ideology.

What has any of this got to do with you saying that you wouldn’t want him back - despite (I predict) the rest of us being unanimously agreeing he’s significantly better than both keepers we have now?

I bet you a donation to a charity of your choosing at the end of the season if I do a poll of BRFCS members, Sidnei isn’t rated higher than Travis or Tronstad.

Arguably we’re now in my least enjoyable phase of being a Rovers fan under Venkys - it’s the moment when the Sky Sports Orange Ticker generation get total blinkers and start to totally ignore reality. Kargbo is Dolan’s replacement. He’s worse. Batth is our best centre half. None of our others are close, but Carters our next best option. We can bid for this Polish league CB as much as we want, they won’t sell him cheap and we won’t offer enough money or wages. Sidnei is nowhere near the quality of Travis or Tronstad. De Neve is a total unknown and a gamble. Every single player we sign is the cheap option. Because that’s what Venkys and Pasha do. There won’t be a significant upgrade in any department - because upgrades cost money. The more you try to justify or have false hope into these people the more upset you will end up being. You simply cannot bring success when the MO is to make savings. Improvement costs money.

I thought Mike and Duncan especially where fantastic on this. It should be released as a podcast (via BRFCS? @Miller11 @Mike Graham) and used as an X Spaces pre-record for viewership.

I'm not one to argue the clubs point of view, but if he's only on 2K a week then its entirely of his own doing. He could have demanded a contract on much more money 18 months ago, but clearly thinks leaving on a free is going to be better for him in the long run - and is probably right.

I'll nail my colours early - I reckon he's shite.

I’m 100% interested in a BRFCS 2026 calendar.

I can’t think of many things worse than having to sit through every Rovers home game.

Someone get it all into ChatGPT and make it summarise it based on Indian law. Thats the clearest way to work out exactly what’s going on.