4 hours ago, K-Hod said:

Sorry, just been corrected- Amer Mushtaq doesn’t work for the LT!

Who?

The guy on the FF is credited as Mushtaq Khan. Do we know if he’s a Blackburner?

11 minutes ago, MarkBRFC said:

I find it bizarre that darrenrover was really vocal for weeks during the end of the season and just afterwards, yet nothing from him for a bit now.

Whats going on?

He was banned by admin.

14 hours ago, Crimpshrine said:

Lots of people coming to the same conclusion - We need to get rid of Venky's

As others have said, Blackpool fans got it right - NAPM. They had very well organised fan groups who got good coverage in the media and released regular, well presented statements. They had a very well respected leader in Christine Seddon and everything they did seemed to be supported by 90% of the fanbase.

The whole of Blackpool seemed to be involved - pubs had banners, taxi's had bumper stickers -'Oyston Out' painted on walls. They had some luck in the end with the court case going against Oyston but the fans were a big part of getting the case brought in the first place.

We need to get organised. I thought we were getting somewhere with the meeting at Blakey's when Coyle was appointed but it all fizzled out.

The only weapon we have is non-attendance and a media campaign. Everyone who loves the club needs to be involved. An organised effort may get results - we can have an influence.

Operation Empty Ewood - Reclaim the Rovers.

The bit in bold is key. We have a fanbase that will not share a single goal - or even know what that is. There is too much “nobody tells me what to do” and not enough caring about the club.

It could be argued that Blackpool were in a worse state than we are - Venkys are still paying the bills after all - but the outcome has broadly been the same relegation from the PL before settling in the Championship.

As unbelievable as it seems our fall from grace is still ahead of us. When the time comes, will our fans care? Our time came and went and not enough people did. A show of 90% of the fanbase against Kean would have at least sent a message of “don’t mess with us”, instead our message was “yeah, crack on”.

5 minutes ago, tomphil said:

Probably one of the clowns who runs several accounts on the LT and is pro everything the manager & club do and say.

The perfect FF member. I’m sure Steve is delighted.

48 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

I might be wrong, but I think he works for the LT. In the meeting I attended (before the most recent one), he asked about doing it when the Brockhall thing was being discussed, rather than saying ‘we need to move our training ground within the limits of BWD’.

Lol. We need the LT back within the limits of BwD before they can pontificate about anything!

1 hour ago, Mattyblue said:

Indeed. ‘The club’ talks of ‘increasing revenue’, something you would think is more vital than ever right now, of course, they tinker round the edges; like having a half dozen folk in Blues Bar on a Friday afternoon. Yet, the real revenue drivers, like ST sales, they instead put up two fingers and circle the wagons to keep their cosy set up in place, ‘they’ know full well that keeping the status quo this summer could well lead to a 1960/2012 esque collapse in crowds, but they obviously couldn’t care less as the betterment of BRFC is seemingly not the priority.

Just like in 2012, actually caring about the feelings of supporters, and the increase (or at least steady stream) of revenue that comes with engaging them and respecting their views is never the plan here, neither is reacting to, you know, results on the pitch.

Summer 2012, after 18 months of farce, appalling results, and the throwing away of PL prestige and riches, when the club was warned that not changing manager would see thousands walk away, they inexplicably kept Ke*n in position. That showed me that this club is not normal, it is run against the principles of professional sport at first team level, I.e putting a management team and squad together to win as many matches as you can, and a decade on nothing has changed (well the administration of it hasn’t, the club as a whole sure has and what a sorry state it’s in).

Good summary but sadly it’s the same story retold.

I do wonder, when people like Waggott (or Mowbray) contact the owners for budget sign-off, or a transfer fee or ST sale approval: who do Venkys contact?

From day 1, this has been a de facto agent-run club, with puppets in the dugout. Not much seems to have changed since, especially when you consider the stable that Mowbray is associated with.

I just don’t see how anything is ever going to change until we are bought from an administrator. While other clubs recover from their implosions, we have yet to have ours. In the meantime we are in a state of suspended decimation.

4 minutes ago, JHRover said:

Because for all the talk and sob stories about how hard up we are and how tough it is

…he still gets paid an eye-watering sum, totally inconsistent with a failing and loss-making enterprise, while seemingly able to continue indefinitely by blaming a lack of commitment in the fanbase.

Nice work if you can get it.

38 minutes ago, OldEwoodBlue said:

oh come on... the blues bar is open Friday & Saturday....what more do you want ?

“We’ve done all we can”

20 hours ago, Hoochie Bloochie Mama said:

According to the FF minutes it looks like ST's will out next week and that ST holders from last year and year before will get a discount of some sort. Or some sort of deal at least. Free pie?

It referred to loyalty so my guess would be “renew your 2019/20 seat by 30 June and get the early bird discount of last year’s full price”. After that a whacking price rise (again) so not so much rewarding loyalty as penalising anyone wanting to “wait and see” over Mowbray and/or transfer business.

For those 2500 who did renew they will get their promised discount (well they’d better bloody had) and £10 off the new shirt.

Personally I think they would be foolish to set an early bird price, a price rise and the threat of a ticking clock after this last 12 months on and off the field and the wider global issues but let’s see how close I am! Who knows, maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised after all Venkys are now experienced football club owners.

18 hours ago, bluebruce said:

So actually more a case of, we best get some business done before June 30th just in case.

I don't care how confident Maggot,  like many I don't rate the man's competence or honesty.

Important plot point this.

With everything needing sign off by Venkys, our transfer business will likely be last minute.

If an embargo hit it would be fantastic news for Mowbray and Waggott as once again they will feel blameless.

Fans will lap up the blame being put on Venkys, even implied, but a few weeks later will remember that “Venkys are keeping the club going” and all will be forgiven.

Meanwhile, experienced owners Venkys, who are not naïve and have learned so much over the last 10 years, are seemingly happy to put up with all of this.

If they really have learned and the want to be considered competent by fans (not that they care what we think) then they have to act.

Just reading those minutes would make competent owners squirm. Do they even see them?

2 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

He was never going anywhere whilst under contract... operation new deals all round will the Coventrio’s priority now.

A new contract for Mowbray and I’m done.

2 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

https://www.rovers.co.uk/siteassets/fans/fans-forum/ff-zoom-minutes-18.5.21.pdf

So to sum up my thoughts after reading that…

All or part of Brockhall is still likely to be sold at some point but the Academy is still very important. The most vocal FF member (part of the FF since Oct 2020) apparently believes this is “very positive”.

The lack of pitch investment is apparently Venkys fault.

Low ST sales next season will be the fans’ fault (fear over Covid and “out of the habit”, Mowbray effect not mentioned)

They intend to offer some “loyalty” programme to ST holders between 2019-21 - presumably last season’s will get a discount and the previous season’s will be offered to retain their ST seats. No mention of pricing strategy.

“Possibly” launching the new kit during school holidays / Euros (so around now?).

Waggott believes Venkys are now experienced football owners and “deserved” to decide on Mowbray’s role. Mowbray is staying and this appears to be attributed to Venkys - although the minutes are ambiguous worded: “it had been decided” but not by whom.

In another four years it is hoped for improved fan engagement - no comment from the club. Same FF member felt it would be “very positive”.

Zoom deemed unsuitable for meetings with fans. FF is apparently now the main fan consultation meeting. No mention as to whether this group will be more responsible / accountable no other fans now not able to have an audience.

Some accounting “queries” to “resolve” by end of June to avoid an embargo.

Summer window will be to replace players who have left - so more of the same but with lower quality players.

The divisive “Taking the knee” gesture is likely to continue indefinitely at Rovers - decision is Elliott Bennett’s apparently.

The Macron deal was “unbelievable” for Rovers - presumably in the same wag that Owen Coyle was unbelievable for Rovers?

This club is having the life sucked out of it and the fans have no power or influence to stop any of it - that’s not in the minutes though.

TLDR:

- Pitch: blame Venkys

- Mowbray staying: blame Venkys

- ST sales projections: blame fans

- Taking the knee to continue: blame Elliott Bennett

- FF meetings to replace full fan consultations: blame covid

- We’ve done all we can

2 hours ago, Displaced Rover said:

I see Raya still looks crap against crosses

Is that you Tony? Them grapes must taste very bitter indeed.

In other news, yet another ex Rovers player now in the PL. It used to be that leaving Rovers was a curse, now it’s a blessing!

Mowbray out! Venkys act!

4 hours ago, Roverthechimp said:

Do they win the league or is there some form of "finals" for top 4/8?? (Genuine question as most US Sports seem to have playoffs)

The fact that neither of us have a clue speaks volumes! 😆

12 minutes ago, arbitro said:

 

These Americans are relatively new to football but they know how to deal with financial miscreants and rule breakers like Beckhams Inter Miami. If only the authorities in the country who invented the game could be as dynamic.

Edit. It won't let me post a link but they have been fined $2m for breaking salary cap rules. The sporting director has been suspended and their 'managing owner' has been fined $250k with their roster allocation being reduced by $2.2m for two seasons.

 

And that’s for a league that isn’t even competitive and has zero prestige.

Without googling can anyone name last season’s MLS winners?

12 hours ago, HowieFive0 said:

Wrong end of the stick there O2G ..i was implying that usually the lack of info out of "Anything Rovers" usually doesnt bode well...although now thinking about it  ten days and counting in this day and age of technology does seem a long time to get information out to the fans you represent.

As for not being able to mention anything said in confidence maybe you should stick to that policy even when news breaks that you knew about but was told in confidence. May save you a little flak if in future  its bad news and you admit you  knew but didnt convey it!

Schoolboy error mate. The FF members don’t represent the fans, they only represent themselves. Something to do with not being elected or not wanting to be asked to hold the club to account for anything, I can’t remember which.

In fairness, their remit is things like the Riverside bogs having cold enough hand washing water and the concessions having hot enough pies so I wouldn’t expect any hard-hitting exposé.

Particularly in the current climate, where there is little trust and not much in there was of communication from the club, I would have expected that the minutes would have been out by this point but it will only end in disappointment and acrimony anyway so I wouldn’t worry too much.

1 hour ago, Claytons Left Boot said:

Football clubs always used to be referred to in a plural sense rather than in a singular one.

- Blackburn Rovers ARE situated in Lancashire

- THEY are one of the oldest clubs in the league

- WE are the most successful town club in England

Not sure if it’s because of foreign players or managers who, in their own language, refer to clubs as is/it etc. but a recent trend has been for increasing instances of references to clubs in the singular.

- Blackburn Rovers IS situated in Lancashire

- It is one of the oldest clubs in the league

- It is the most successful town club in England

I notice these things 🙂 

People seem to forget that football clubs are still clubs and not just a company.

Fans/people are bloody important!!

23 minutes ago, matt83 said:

It might do his reputation harm if he performs for Chile how he performs more often than not for Rovers.

What would be even more interesting would be if he is played at CF and does performs better than he does for Rovers.

That might do Mowbray’s reputation a bit more harm.

Genuinely wish the lad well and it will certainly toughen him up.

On the flip side, it’s a poor show that his development has seen a £7m, England U19s Euro winner having to turn out for a South American team to have a sniff of an international career.

Let’s hope he can stay fit and get a regular starting berth. Being a “young kid”, he’ll be behind Ayala - at least for 10 minutes or so.

Just need to sign a manager who knows how to organise a defence now.

28 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Only has stupid as your previous one. We all know that Mowbray is very lucky that he has escape the sack this summer after last season poor results and performances. The pressure will be on this coming season with fans back inside Stadium. Renewing Stuart or will you be giving it up and protesting outside the ground for Mowbray to be sack?

There he is. The old Chaddy is back.

8 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

does it matter really Stuart? 

Stupid statement.

By that view, nothing really matters.

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

Bournemouth, WBA, Sheffield United all need new manager before the new season so it will be interest who they appoint

Wouldn't be surprise if Frank Lampard took the Bournemouth job

Sheffield United looks likely to appoint Jokanovic as next boss

Don't see WIlder getting the WBA unless he accepts Luke Dowling role as Sporting Director or he gets his wishes and Dowling role is removed or change and he gets overall charge. Other possible candidates could be Steve Cooper, Karl Robinson or Valerien Ismael. 

Wonder why Mowbray is never linked with these jobs. There is no better manager out there. He should have loads of options.

48 minutes ago, AllRoverAsia said:

Lambert was recruited to sell Rhodes.

Job done, he exercised his pre-arranged escape clause.

He expected the Rhodes cash is another theory. Give me a break. Lambert was never that stupid.

So Lambert is the real villain of the piece?

Not Anderson, or Anderson Jr, not Kean, not Shaw, not Coyle, not Waggott or Mowbray, not the series of shysters who have happily taken the Venkys coin and laughed all the way to the bank.

No, it was Lambert all along. Of course, it all makes sense. The very idea that Venkys would renege on promises or do anything other than absolutely respect the Jack Walker legacy. It’s so simple, it’s genius now you’ve explained it.

Pretending along that Venkys couldn’t be trusted, when we all know different, just so he could walk away without a pay-off.  How did he ever think he could get away with it…?

The reaction to this thread, on this site in particular, sums up why we are stuck on this situation and why nothing is going to change.

To summarise: “Nobody is going to stop me giving Waggott my money, not even for something that I don’t need”.

Well that’s absolutely fine but never ever complain about him or Mowbray because none of you are prepared to do the bare minimum, even worse you will actually actively oppose even the most simple of protest ideas with such crap as “well, my kids want a shirt so don’t tell me what to do”.

Which is also the reason why we have kids growing up the way they are, in a world the way it is: they aren’t taught about sacrifice or standing up for anything. Just keep your head down, don’t speak up about anything and I’ll buy you stuff.

Expectations dumbed down, no attachment to anything at the club, and nobody cares anymore.

I’ve absolutely no problem with someone telling me that this protest won’t change anything, it is symbolic and a show of feeling (or would have been if anyone had any feeling left) but I’ve not seen anyone come up with anything else other than hopelessness. And I’m seen as being negative!

If anything sums up the sliding doors moment of the last 11 years…