Giles I could never understand. The thing is while striving for a play off place, it's never a good time to try and train a player to play in a new position. He really had no idea what he was doing or how to play. That's what preseason is meant to be used for

It will be quite a significant departure from the past, 1 actually buying a defender, especially as your first signing and 2. Building from the back

One thing we can say with certainty is that we will never be able to afford to sign him again. If he is a success though, it will show that TM wasn't that good at player development. I thought he mismanaged and was detrimental to Harvey Elliott the previous season. With Elliott, Rothwell and Armstrong in the same side we should have been the most feared pacey attacking team in the Championship. Instead we worried about everyone else and nullified our strengths.

Although if you look in our history books the number of worsts next to a TM team is pretty impressive, worst home defeat, worst sequence of games without a win, most number of games without a goal scored etc. The difference between TM and the ones you mentioned is that those were removed pretty quickly. TM just stayed too long.

Nope on Wallace but funds were there to buy players, why we didn't I have no idea

Jack used to over rule managers on players all of the time. So it's a bit unfair to slaughter Venky's for wanting to keep the team together for a playoff push. What I don't get is if Paul Mani was correct on the players lined up with the Rothwell sale, why didn't we just buy them as Venky's had provided more funds for January signings as confirmed by Waggott and Mowbray. It's just we didn't sign anyone. Maybe he expected a new contract first?

We are run the same way as Derby, just Mel Morris had had enough of pumping £20-30m a year into the club.

There were reports they were looking at Maradona a few days before we sacked Sam, so a competent manager was always going to be doubtful. Getting rid of him at that point was always risky especially considering a new TV deal was starting 18 months later, giving all clubs an additional £50m+ a year income. Also the football was not that bad, we played longer balls under Keen etc afterwards. I remember being 3-0 up at home to Wolves before he was sacked and a load of idiots booing due to him not chasing more goals in the last 10 mins

I think the wage bill was 87% when we were sold. Only time it was over 100% during the Walker Trust years was when we were in Championship.

I am pretty sure I didn't say that. I just commented on unleaded saying Ainsworth had been interviewed and is keen but we aren't. Based on that I took it as Waggott not wanting to introduce him to Venkys and in self preservation mode.

I am not sure Rooney is such a good manager. Last year there was absolutely no pressure on him and even if Derby hadn't had any points deductions would have finished 18 or 19th. I think I would be tempted to go with Warne or Ainsworth although both of those will probably reject us as they will want to bring in some of their own coaches etc. I want to know what exactly it is that Lowe or Benson have on people at the club if they are must haves for any new manager to retain.

Nope, he's older than 24

It's a very strange set of circumstances we find ourself in. If we had a fan owning us instead of Venky's, they would have packed up and gone years ago and given to someone else to try and do better. Eventually there will come a time when they are no longer prepared to fund the club. I would prefer us to be at a £5m a year loss at that point than where we are now.

It's probably self preservation on Waggot and Pasha's end. With his Rockstar style etc, Balaji will end up getting on very well with him and bypass the 2 of them in decision making or Balaji will end up being told exactly what's happening without any ewood filters being applied.

Yep but the flip side is the lower the loss the more attractive we are to investors when they decide to sell up

Farke is pretty similar hair wise.

Stoke was a poisoned chalice at the time. Players thought they were better than they were, egos through the roof and wouldn't listen to a nobody like Jones. I think if he went there now he would probably be a success.

He's on holiday till next week

For Ferguson it is probably required, with his criminal record, I am not sure he would qualify for a visa to visit India for the yearly review.

I would say the compensation we'd have to pay Everton for Ferguson pretty much rules him out as well as Ferguson having to take a paycut to come here. Any compensation will probably be deducted from our transfer budget so an out of work or minimal would be preferable. I think I would go down the Wagner route at the moment personally.

Seems to suggest another power struggle behind the scenes again. Venky's wanting one person and Waggott another.

How is that how you do it? They sacked Dyche months ago and are only just looking to appoint a new manager. Theirs is definitely protracted.

Problem is that Pasha is basically their Chaeffeur and has been their eyes and ears on the ground for those 12 years. So it has been some come down since we were the best run club in the country. I view this as a good thing getting us back up their agenda and not forgotten about. It may well reignite their enthusiasm.

From Glen said yesterday we can expect an announcement on both around the 6th June. Before that we can look forward to the club confirming Venus and most probably Waggots departure, although I keep being told Pasha will also no longer be involved in the club as well. Pasha will be replaced by Balaji son who will have power to do things.

The reason why they have not sold all of Brockhall in this transaction is that the whole of Brockhall can't be mortgaged, only the part that can be developed. From what i have heard the new company will get a Mortgage from the Bank of India for £13m which the club will pay through rent. This will cover Venky's injection next year. As with League rules, the rent has to be at a commercial rate to be compliant, Derby were paying £1m for their training ground per year so expect Rovers to be paying £750k per season. There will also be break clauses to evict us if planning permission can be granted etc. I know last year, Venky's did want to bring in new investors from their friends but it fell through. In a normal business, everything that is happening are the things you'd do preparing for a sale or new investment.