It'll be amazing just how many fans swallow that right up and repeat it verbatim when defending the clubs appalling transfer activity in the last 18 months. I'm really intrigued as to whether BBC Lancs and Elliott Jackson have been invited for an interview... both have said on record that the request went in. If they haven't already done an interview with him, then they now have a copy of his pre-rehearsed script to pick apart and make any interview uncomfortable. As I said last night, these cosy interviews are akin to Putin speaking to Russian State TV. Never challenged, never disputed, never probed - just singing off a hymn sheet in the hope that the gullible masses will lap it up.

But surely you understand that simply gives Waggott and Co a completely free ride? Zero accountability, just a controlled platform for them to peddle their unchallenged version of events.

As soon as I realised the interview was an inside job I knew it was going to be entirely toothless. Not to trivialise a truly horrendous and barbaric situation, but it’s a little bit like watching Putin address the nation on Russian State TV. All this guff about the owners never refusing a transfer, what a load of shite. We already know they scuppered the Batth one last season, not to mention the very fishy O’Brien and Maguire fiascos. I wonder if Jackson and the BBC will get a go like last season? Perhaps Andy Bayes might be able to probe him a bit further on some of the drivel he’s coming out with.

Eustace, "He hasn't trained or played for the last 3 or 4 weeks"

All I can deduce from this scenario is that they have effectively ringfenced a large portion of the transfer fee as the next firefighting funds for when the August hearing inevitably goes against them. I can't think of another scenario (at Rovers or otherwise) where a club goes to such extraordinary lengths to avoid scuppering a potential windfall. He's our best player and we have 4 games before the end of August, including a game against our bitter rivals. He should have been preparing just like the rest of them to give us the best possible start to the season.

I can't recall any situation where the player has not played (never mind trained!!) during even the closing stages of a window, never mind with over 3-weeks to go. Brereton played against Blackpool 24 hours before the window closed a couple of years ago, and that was admist seemingly very serious interest from Fulham and other clubs. If he's still contracted to the club he should be playing. If, as you say, no club has even come close to his valuation then it's extraordinary that he is effectively on gardening leave. Looks more and more like Rovers are pinning their likely meagre transfer outlay on his departure - ridiculous given the amount of money already brought in since last summer.

Sorry if it’s already been asked, but does anyone know if existing ST holders just use the same card again, or are new ones being sent?

Nearly cried yesterday when I saw that the Rovers media team had taken it upon themselves to inform us that 17 years ago to the day we signed Roque Santa Cruz from Bayern Munich. Whilst none of this mess is their fault, and they're no doubt doing their best to portray an 'all is well' environment, at what point does anyone think... "better read the room here".

One being 37 year old McFadzean, who was part of the bare bones squad that limped over the line in May. I don't think any fan in their right mind is going to consider that a new signing, it just isn't. Couple that with the seemingly imminent departures of Szmodics and Gallagher and the squad, with 11 days until the new season is unquestionably weaker. It is depressing, you can't deny that.

Altrincham

Where has this been reported?

Well, actually, Park is also consistent from the Dembele link. We wanted him when Mowbray was here.

Some fans are demanding it. Honestly staggering.

If it’s us I hope he’s only got carry on luggage, we won’t have stretched to hold.

Advantage, Jackson.

Oh come on, he's literally flown half way across the world... I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that the deal is done. In fact, so confident am I, that he may as well be holding up a blue and white shirt already! Actually, forget that... Rovers may as well have unveiled him as an official signing on all social media channels. Those examples of course being the absolute, cast iron confirmations that any football club in the world has completed the signing of a new player.

Original tweet.

The fact that it may be construed as 'one or the other' tells you all you need to know about the contempt held for the current regime. As it is, I have no issue whatsoever with this teambuilding day. The summer JDT arrived when we were all falsely hoping for a new dawn, I'd have been quite impressed with the idea of showing appreciation to the entire workforce and not just the players/coaches.

A quick look online suggests Baker is on circa £20K p/w at Stoke. File this one away, it’s not happening.

This should be shared on the comments/thread of every twitter and Facebook post Rovers make. See if it can’t wake up one or two of those fans who blindly back the owners.

Never has the phrase 'a camel is a horse designed by committee' been so pertinent.

God help us if anyone at Rovers thinks the answer to our problems is to simply play Dilan Markanday in the ‘correct’ position. What even is his correct position?

Markanday only made 6 appearances (at least 5 as a sub) in Eustace’s 17 games in charge, and scored 1 league goal all season. Would have to be some turnaround for him to become anything like a reliable goal scorer for us.

Just for a bit of extra context, Szmodics scored just under 40% of our goals last season. There just isn’t a logical argument to suggest any single player in our squad could replace his goals. In fact, the top 8 scorers after Szmod (I’ve taken out Moran as he is gone) would all have to double their tallies for the season simply to make up the difference. You can’t possibly believe that is even remotely realistic.